Bonuses Spark Debate Among Westchase Governing Board

It's bonus time in Westchase. The Community Development District used a portion of its monthly meeting on Tuesday to approve bonuses to its staff, including it's field supervisor Doug Mays and office manager Sonny Whyte.

This year one CDD supervisor member made a motion to extend those bonuses to District Manager Andy Mendenhall, a contracted employee who works for Severn Trent Services.

District supervisor Bill Casale made a motion to award a bonus of $2,000 to Mendenhall. However the amount didn't sit so well with some on the board.

"My hesitation is we have two guys on our staff who do a great job for us," said Supervisor Greg Chesney. "They are the ones who we call to close the gates and pick up trash."

"It's hard for me to pay Andy directly like that," Chesney later noted. "It's unusual."

Supervisor Brian Ross agreed.

"Andy works for an independent contractor," Ross said. "What we should do is community to his supervisors."

When a vote was taken, Ross and Chesney voted against the bonus. While supervisors Casale, Ernie Sylvester and Mark Ragusa voted in favor.

But after further discussion CDD chairman Ragusa, who had previously been in favor of the bonus, changed his mind.

"I've been talked out of this," said Ragusa, moving to reconsider the previous motion to grant Andy the bonus.

Casale stood by his point.

"I give a gift to my mailman, I am showing my appreciation," Casale said. "Whether his supervisor sees it or doesn't see it, I see it."

Ross countered.

"I think when you're talking about paying a gift of $2,000 that's different than saying let's give a gift of a $200 gift card to Best Buy," Ross said. "And I have a hard time looking at my community and saying I've taken your money and bonsued an employee of a private contractor."

In the end the board took a re-cast their votes, this time deciding against a chas bonus for Mendenhall in favor of giving gift cards to him and other CDD support staf including the Hillsborough County deputies who help patrol the neighborhood, and four security staff. The total amount spent on gift cards is not to exceed $1,000, according to the board's vote.

CDD office manager Sonny Whyte and field supervisor Doug Mays will both recieve holiday bonuses of $1,250 each. The CDD's two grounds workers will recieve $500 and $800 bonuses. The latter amount will be given to the employee who has been employed the longest by the CDD.

The next CDD meeting is Tues., Jan. 3 at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center located at 10405 Countryway Boulevard in Tampa.