January 26, 2007

The outrageous pension deals caused by the January 2001 pension resolution allowing elected and appointed officials to retire after 12 years regardless of age is now being compounded by special deals for Gale Jones Carson allowing her to work for the MLGW for a hefty salary of $126,000 and continue to receive her monthly pension check of $2300.

This brings to mind the name of Roland McElrath, the current Director of finance for the City of Memphis. McElrath resigned from the City to take a job at the Memphis School System where he could receive his $32,000 pension check and his $116,000 salary. However he made so many mistakes at the School System that he resigned and returned to the City of Memphis where watchdog was told he could not receive his pension check while getting his City salary. Based on what watchdog was told, we printed this information below back in 2005.

McElrath, who will earn $115,706 annually, was approved 10-3 with Chumney, Scott McCormick and Janet Hooks voting against it. Hooks complained McElrath had not been open with the council during his previous stint.
McElrath began collecting a $33,110-a-year pension when he retired as finance director in March 2001. The pension checks stop with his reappointment.

How can Gale Jones Carson receive her pension check if McElrath cannot? Or possibly he is receiving it and watchdog was told a lie.

Also from another article printed by watchdog in 2005, please note who voted for the January 2001 pension and what was said and by whom at the time of the 2001 vote.

PENSION RESOLUTION FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED CITY OFFICIALS
This resolution passed in January of 2001 is a multimillion dollar mistake that can be laid directly at the door of the Mayor and the City Council. Tom Marshall was quoted in the Commercial Appeal saying “ The change is designed to attract top-quality candidates for elected and appointed posts”. The Mayor was quoted in the Commercial Appeal saying “ In an effort to be competitive and be able to attract and retain high-caliber personnel, government – like private sector – must increase its benefits plans”. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
· Roland McElrath, the finance and administration director, resigned to take a job as the school system’s associate superintendent of business operation at $116,000 per year. He will immediately start receiving $32,000 per year under the January 2001 pension resolution.
· Mark Brown, the City Treasurer, retired under this plan and took a job as Bartlett’s finance director.
· Danny Wray, the city’s comptroller, also retired under this plan and took a job as controller for the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce.
And on an on. We do not know the final damage yet but it is the millions and millions of dollars just due to the Mayor and the City Council’s mistakes and lies.
WHO VOTED FOR IT. Jones, Mitchell, Hooks, Ford, Holt, Brown, Peete, Lowery, Marshall and Sammons.