The meeting was held at 2 p.m. The agenda packet did not include the proposed contract change or any backup documentation. It only stated: “Executive Director Agreement Review,” so the public was given no notice of the possible salary increase.
How it unfolded: The minutes state that Stephanie White made the motion to increase the salary to $125K, and Tori Woods seconded the motion. “All were in favor to accept the requested changes.”
- The minutes do not list any other attendees except Dr. Rex Northup, White, and Woods. The trio voted to hire Cannon at the Dec. 20 special board meeting. The public meeting last month did not mention increasing the salary offered.
Dig Deeper:
Dr. Northrup justified the increase to WEAR-TV, saying the Trust had budgeted to pay moving expenses for the new executive director. However, the other finalist was also an Escambia County resident who would not have required moving expenses.
- An email from board attorney Meredith Bush to Tammy Abrams, the interim executive director, states that the pay increase demand came from Cannon. Bush wrote, “…the salary is a dealbreaker for her so the sooner we can have a meeting, the better.”
Bush also attached a draft employment agreement “to include as backup to the personnel committee agenda.”
However, the draft was not posted online with the agenda or minutes.