Birdies are chirping all over town: City Manager Finley DeGraffenreid will be hanging up his cleats and riding off into a fat, taxpayer-funded sunset in a few months. I’m guessing he’ll get through the next budget process (new fiscal year starts Oct 1st) and then bump up his overpaid sidekick Forrest Gump Ward up to the The Big Show.
More’s the pity.
This was rumored to happen last year but never did. Guess he wanted another $205k in salary and benefits to throw on the pile before he took off.
I’d advise City council to give Ward the most miniscule of raises this year. He’s already wildly overpaid compared to the national average for that position. Not to mention this:
Related: Finley deGraffenried: – $2.0 Million Over Eleven Years With Lampasas.
I’ll be preparing a list of Finley’s Greatest Hits for his retirement later this year. Stuff like the Azbell A/V system, Old City Hall renovation, pavilion, skate park cost explosion, the pool being closed all the time due to lack of properly paid life guards, no-bid pre-fab bathroom in Campbell Park, the Hostess House cost explosions, Business Park disaster, lack of progress at the Economic Development position, failure to put garbage contract out for bid, etc, etc.