Dewey Panel to Tackle Future Bonuses

BY KRISTEN SMITH

DEWEY BEACH – One month after controversial year-end bonuses were distributed to town employees, officials have started to discuss how financial perks should be awarded in the future.

At a Christmas party at the home of Mayor Dell Tush, Town Manager Gordon Elliott distributed $200 checks to the town’s 23 employees. Commissioners — who did not approve the bonuses, which totaled $4,600 — were not invited to attend the gathering.

In response, the Budget & Finance Committee has been tasked with devising a procedure for the issuance of future bonuses, officials said.

“This whole issue needs to be put to bed. It’s become very overblown and is not about bonuses at all — this was an attack on me and enough is enough,” Tush said. “We have so much more important work to do. We just voted in a new zoning code for the (Comprehensive Development Plan) and all people want to talk about is bonuses. This is ridiculous.”

But some commissioners say they still don’t understand why Tush took it upon herself to distribute $4,600 in checks when the town was facing a year-end budget deficit of $700,000.

“The mayor made a public statement that she had not conducted a poll amongst the commissioners, so one of two scenarios occurred. Either the mayor did not conduct the poll as she stated and lied to the town manager about it, or the town manager lied to Commissioner Diane Hanson and myself when he said the mayor told him that she had obtained an illegal majority vote,” said Commissioner Rich Hanewinckel.

“Either way, there appears that significant improprieties surrounding the actions taken by the mayor and/or town manager regarding the year-end bonuses that have not yet been flushed out,” he said.

According to the profit and loss budget through the end of October, which is posted on the town’s Web site, Dewey Beach exceeded its personnel budget by $103,000.

While Tush acknowledged the deficit, she said the $4,600 in bonuses far outweighed the cost of hiring and training new employees.

“I really and truly believe you have to take care of the people who work for you,” she said. “People need to quit all this attacking. It’s not playing well to the town … it makes us look so petty.”

Elliott, who also received a bonus, said he supports the mayor’s decision.

“I also feel the employees deserved something,” he said. “I’ve been here 26 years and we’ve always gotten some sort of Christmas gift from the town.”

But resident Carl Newman said he does not believe employee bonuses should be awarded when the town is facing financial hardships. Since the mayor has not proven to be fiscally prudent, he said action should be taken.

“She should be subject to a full investigation in order to determine action in the form of an impeachment or trial by the Town Council,” he said. “I agree with the mayor’s sentiments about not wanting to reduce employee benefits, but given the circumstances of the economy, as well as the financial condition of the town itself, certain realities must rule in light of the budget shortfall which dictates conservative action.”