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Tarpon OKs LeCouris' Employment Contract

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: February 28, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - At his first official meeting as city manager, Tuesday night, Mark LeCouris agreed this is most likely one of the toughest times to assume the post as a city's top administrative official.

In these, the direst economic times in memory, the city faces a $2 million revenue shortfall in its next fiscal year, LeCouris noted.

It may, however, also be the best of times because an economic crisis gives a good manager a chance to really prove his worth, Commissioner Chris Alahouzos declared.

Selection of LeCouris will save the city a lot of recurring expenses, Alahouzos said. He estimated the city will save about $44,000 a year under LeCouris' city manager employment contract.

For example, at his request, he will receive the same pay he did while he was police chief. His $109,884 annual salary is much less than the city would have to pay for a more experienced manager, Alahouzos said.

In addition, during his more than 30 years with the Police Department LeCouris paid into its retirement fund. The city will not have to afford him the expensive amenity of paying into a retirement fund.

Cheers erupted from the audience after commissioners approved the employment contract and LeCouris was sworn in as city manager.

Commissioners praised LeCouris for his take-charge work ethic and his ability to bring people together to problem solve. During his time as interim manager LeCouris proved he can do the job, commissioners said.

LeCouris received a contract that is fair to both him and the city, Alahouzos said. He particularly liked the clause in the employment pact under which LeCouris agreed he will not seek other professional opportunities, public or private, without prior commission approval.

Commissioners, Alahouzos noted, were surprised to learn that then-City Manager Ellen Posivach was seeking another job.

Under terms of the contract, if the commission fires LeCouris without cause he would receive three months' salary and accumulated vacation time pay but not sick time. If there were cause to terminate his employment, LeCouris would only receive any accumulated sick time pay, according to the contract.

LeCouris, who was named the city's police chief in 1993, has been serving as the city's interim city manager since Posivach resigned in May of last year.

Under Posivach, LeCouris, at the same time he was police chief, served for eight years as the city's acting administrative services director. The job was comparable to that of an assistant city manager.

LeCouris began his career in law enforcement in 1976, as an auxiliary police officer.

LeCouris, who developed the city's Cops and Kids Program in 1989, holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of South Florida. Commissioner told LeCouris they would like him to pursue public administration studies.

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