Record-Journal
10-02-2007, 01:48 AM
MERIDEN -- City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior received high marks from the City Council and the mayor in his annual review. The praise came with a 2.5 percent pay raise.
“The council is very pleased with him,” said council Majority Leader Stephen T. Zerio.
Kendzior, who was hired as city manager in June 2005, received an average score of 4.06 from the council. The highest possible rating was a 5. With the mayor’s scores, Kendzior’s average was bumped up to a 4.07.
Zerio said Kendzior’s boss is the council. As a result, he said the 4.06 average is the city manager’s official evaluation score. The council asked for the mayor’s input out of respect, Zerio said. Kendzior was also asked to complete a self-evaluation.
“The city manager’s self-review pretty much mirrored the City Council’s and the mayor’s,” Zerio said. “That means we are on the same page.”
Kendzior was evaluated in several areas, including problem solving, advocacy and community representation. His highest mark from both the council and mayor was in the category titled “Budget and Fiscal.” The 12-member council’s scores averaged out to a 4.58 in that area, while Mayor Mark Benigni gave him a perfect score.
The council is happy with Kendzior’s work on the budget, especially in a revaluation year, Zerio said.
Kendzior’s lowest score, a 3.67 from the council, was in the area of supervision of personnel. A 3.67 is still a very good score, Zerio said, adding that the score was the council’s way of telling Kendzior he is doing a great job, but could do more.
Councilor Patricia D. Lynes said Kendzior could improve in the area of supervision by better motivating department directors like the parks and recreation and personnel directors.
Lynes said she is 99 percent pleased with Kendzior’s performance as city manager.
“I sing Larry’s praises all the time,” she said.
Lynes especially likes the way he listens and responds to the council. When councilors asked questions, Kendzior always had answers ready, Lynes said.
“That’s a delight,” she said.
Kendzior said he was pleased with his review. He said he thought it was good that he agreed with the council and the mayor on his strengths and weaknesses.
After negotiations, Kendzior got a 2.5-percent raise, bringing his annual salary to almost $132,000.
The increase is retroactive and was less than what the council had approved. The council had offered him 3 percent, but Kendzior said he felt it was important to only take a raise equivalent to the raise approved for the city’s bargaining units.
“That’s typical of Larry,” Zerio said.
“The council is very pleased with him,” said council Majority Leader Stephen T. Zerio.
Kendzior, who was hired as city manager in June 2005, received an average score of 4.06 from the council. The highest possible rating was a 5. With the mayor’s scores, Kendzior’s average was bumped up to a 4.07.
Zerio said Kendzior’s boss is the council. As a result, he said the 4.06 average is the city manager’s official evaluation score. The council asked for the mayor’s input out of respect, Zerio said. Kendzior was also asked to complete a self-evaluation.
“The city manager’s self-review pretty much mirrored the City Council’s and the mayor’s,” Zerio said. “That means we are on the same page.”
Kendzior was evaluated in several areas, including problem solving, advocacy and community representation. His highest mark from both the council and mayor was in the category titled “Budget and Fiscal.” The 12-member council’s scores averaged out to a 4.58 in that area, while Mayor Mark Benigni gave him a perfect score.
The council is happy with Kendzior’s work on the budget, especially in a revaluation year, Zerio said.
Kendzior’s lowest score, a 3.67 from the council, was in the area of supervision of personnel. A 3.67 is still a very good score, Zerio said, adding that the score was the council’s way of telling Kendzior he is doing a great job, but could do more.
Councilor Patricia D. Lynes said Kendzior could improve in the area of supervision by better motivating department directors like the parks and recreation and personnel directors.
Lynes said she is 99 percent pleased with Kendzior’s performance as city manager.
“I sing Larry’s praises all the time,” she said.
Lynes especially likes the way he listens and responds to the council. When councilors asked questions, Kendzior always had answers ready, Lynes said.
“That’s a delight,” she said.
Kendzior said he was pleased with his review. He said he thought it was good that he agreed with the council and the mayor on his strengths and weaknesses.
After negotiations, Kendzior got a 2.5-percent raise, bringing his annual salary to almost $132,000.
The increase is retroactive and was less than what the council had approved. The council had offered him 3 percent, but Kendzior said he felt it was important to only take a raise equivalent to the raise approved for the city’s bargaining units.
“That’s typical of Larry,” Zerio said.