Depending on who you ask, the generous new contract recently granted to Riverside City Manager John Russo is a handsome reward for a job well done or a shameful taxpayer giveaway. In either case, it is pitting city officials against one another, with Mayor Rusty Bailey now suing to have it set aside.
Bailey has been opposed to the new agreement, approved 5-2, which leaves Russo with about $471,000 in pay and benefits this year, plus a $675,000 low-interest home loan. Bailey tried to veto the move, but was told his attempt holds no legal weight. That’s now up to a court to decide.
“When is enough enough?” the mayor asked. “The new contract is beyond any other contract.”
The battle lines have now been drawn. Councilman Andy Melendrez is one of those siding with Russo, who he believes is more than deserving of the package based on his education, experience, and excellent track record. Melendrez even proposed the hiring of a special counsel to investigate the mayor over the dispute, which gives you an idea of how things are going.
On the other side you have Councilman Jim Perry. He took issue with the home loan.
“I do not think the city should be involved as a mortgage company,” he said.
One thing everyone seems to agree on is that Russo is doing a good job.
“I think he is a brilliant individual and an innovative manager,” Mayor Bailey acknowledged. There’s just disagreement over what that brilliance and innovation is worth.
The timing of the contract has only complicated matters further. It comes as city department heads seek room for budget cuts, and as the worry over public retirement costs is reaching a crescendo.
Some see bigger issues at work in the dispute between Bailey, Russo, and their respective allies. In addition to a good old clash of personalities, there’s a disparity between the mayor’s very public persona and his actual powers as mayor which are quite limited in scope.
“The true story,” Russo says, “is not about my contract but about petty corruption and a city that has changed and is changing, and a mayor who is not comfortable with those changes.”
Whatever the cause of the discord, Riverside needs some resolution on this issue.
“A lot of good things are happening in Riverside and this is not particularly helpful,” notes former mayor Ron Loveridge. “City Hall needs to have its act together as it competes for business and residents.”