Bonser Calls into Question Merit Raise for Dunwoody City Manager

Monday night’s council meeting wasn’t just a send off to three Dunwoody City Council members; there were also stern words about City Manager Warren Hutmacher’s job performance from City Councilwoman Adrian Bonser.

Monday, the council voted on a proposal to give Hutmacher a 3.5 percent merit pay increase. The item was on the council’s consent agenda – a list of uncontroversial items that are to be approved with one blanket vote. Bonser requested that it be taken off the consent agenda and be voted on separately.

Bonser said a pay increase is not deserved.

“This resolution states, ‘Whereas Warren Hutmacher has performed his duties as city manager fully and admirably and has been a valuable resource as the city continues its operations,’” she said. “I do not agree with that statement.”

Bonser said she felt Hutmacher was below average in several areas, which she noted in her evaluation of him earlier this year (she marked him as ‘not meeting expectations’ in four of eight categories, she said).

Among her issues with Hutmacher’s performance of city manager, Bonser pointed to two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from earlier this year, including the city’s having to rebid its She said the city was almost sued because it did not follow proper protocol in the bidding process.

“When you add Warren’s salary and benefits together, he currently makes around $200,000 a year, which is a large amount of money in this economic environment,” she said. “Someone who is making that kind of money should be held to a higher standard. We should expect more from his expertise.”

She said he also ignored her pleas for the branding of the Georgetown/North Shallowford area.

“Warren’s salary should be a reflection of the services he is providing for our city, and currently I believe his service is woefully lacking,” she said.

The 2011 budget had a salary for the city manager at $162,801, as well as around $45,000 in insurance, retirement and other benefits.

“He has not earned a merit increase of any kind, in my estimation, and I would like to propose an amendment that we do not provide any type of raise at this time to Warren,” she said.

The proposal was met with silence, without any other council members giving a second to her motion.

Bonser said there was another councilmember who shared her feelings and she was disappointed they did not partake in the discussion.

Councilman Denis Shortal came to Hutmacher’s defense.

“Has Warren been perfect? No. Have I been perfect? No,” he said. “But, I think the city is run pretty well. There’s always some things you can do to enhance things, to make things better. We will move forward and do that.”

Mayor Ken Wright, on his last night as a city council member, also supported Hutmacher.

“When we did go through our performance evaluations, Warren did receive very high marks except for one,” Wright said.

He commended Hutmacher’s work.

“I appreciate your service to the city and to this council,” he said. “It’s an extremely difficult job. A lot more difficult job than any one of us has sitting up here.”

Hutmacher was given a 3.5 percent raise by the council on a 6-1 vote, with Bonser voting against.