See Jay fight it on Local 10 News Story.

Article From Local 10 News – Bob Norman’s Blog

Published On: Nov 09 2011 10:12:50 PM EST

One South Florida government official makes more than the president of the United States.

It’s Charles Dodge, the city manager of sleepy and suburban Pembroke Pines. Doing the math, Dodge personally makes a grand total of at least a half a million dollars a year, which is more than the city managers of Fort Lauderdale and Miami combined.

That despite the fact that Pembroke Pines has a much smaller tax base than both those cities.

I caught up with Dodge last week and asked him how he justifies all that money.

“I don’t justify my salary,” he answered. “It was a contract just as any vendor who would come to the city and the commission approves it.”

Technically, Dodge doesn’t work for the city; he works for his own firm, Charles F. Dodge LLC, which consists of two people: Dodge and his assistant and partner, Martin Gayeski.

In 2008, the city supplies the office and staff — and health insurance for both men as well. And it approved a $755,000 contract with Dodge’s firm in 2008.

On top of that both Dodge and Gayeski are collecting city pensions of $75,000 and $100,000 respectively. They retired before coming back to the city as Charles F. Dodge LLC. Add it all together and the pair were pulling in a total of $930,000.

“I had worked for the city and I retired,” Dodge told me. “I offered and I made a proposal that I work this form of a relationship and they did approve it in 2003.”

Jay Schwartz, chairman of the city’s Economic Development Board and a commission candidate, calls the contract “egregious” and says it should be renegotiated.

“I consider it double-dipping,” he said.

Before his retirement, Dodge was making a more reasonable $160,000.

Dodge said that he pays his assistant, Gayeski, $228,000 — which is more than many city managers in largers cities make.

When asked how much he made from the contract, Dodge said he didn’t know.

“Of that amount after the ordinary expenses, I have to calculate,” he said. “I don’t have that number right handy.”

“You don’t know how much you make?” I asked him.

“I know how much I make, I don’t know how much the net amount is because I have expenses,” he said.

Both men have their health insurance paid for by the city. I asked Dodge what expenses he paid and he said he pays for his own car, gasoline, liability insurance, social security match, and gasoline.

When Dodge first signed his private contract with the city, it wasn’t even allowed under the charter, which demanded that the manager be an employee of the city. In 2006, under Dodge, the charter was changed to allow an “entity” to serve in the position.

Some officials, including Commissioner Iris Siple, now want to change the charter back to its original form.

“I think this position is too important to be outsourced, period,” said Pines Charter Review Committee Member Francois Leconte, who added that he would “love” to see Dodge’s salary come in line with other city managers.

Dodge’s contract has survived city layoffs and budget cuts, though he did take a $20,000 reduction of his fee in 2009.

How is Dodge performing in the job that is paying him so much? It’s hard to tell.  “The fact is that this city manager has yet to have a performance appraisal under this contract,” said Schwartz.

Residents tell me they are tired of the bad business decisions.
Residents tell me they deserve a leader who will listen and make decisions based on sound reasoning.
Residents want to know they will be safe.
Residents want to know their money is being spent in the most efficient and effective ways.
Residents want a representative that will deliver on campaign promises.

Pembroke Pines offers the promise of a bright future for all who live and work here. It is also a city facing challenges that quite frankly have been handled the wrong way. For years I have participated in Commission meetings, volunteered on government boards, and have fought for the residents and small businesses of our city.

“I am personally asking for your support. I promise to keep my word, to uphold the ethical standards expected of an elected official, and to work diligently to pursue the leadership we deserve.”

Jay Schwartz, Candidate
City of Pembroke Pines Commission, District 2, non-partisan

For more information about Jay Click.Here

The Pembroke Pines ELECTION WILL BE JANUARY 31, 2012

This election is about bringing

Leadership We Deserve to City Hall.

Our grassroots campaign has given me the unique opportunity of sitting down with residents at their kitchen table, getting to know their struggles, their concerns, and overall disappointment with Commnissioner Jack McCluskey.

We all know that career politicians will say anything to be re-elected and Jack McCluskey will be no different.

I am personally asking for your support on January 31, 2012.

Please complete the form below so that we can share our future together.

Thank you in advance,

Jay Schwartz, Candidate
City of Pembroke Pines Commission, District 2, non-partisan

My wife, Stacey, and I are blessed to have two wonderful children. We believe in core family values and want our children to understand  the importance of being involved in our community.

Allow me to tell you a little bit about my background.

Growing up was not easy. My sister and I were raised by a single mother in Philadelphia. My mother managed with only a GED to learn a trade by becoming a dog groomer, a blue collar job with no health benefits and considerably low income. Our mother taught us how to manage money on a tight budget, to live life with integrity, and to give back to your community.

My sister and I knew that we could not let mom down. We studied hard in school and worked odd jobs to bring money into the household. Our hard work paid off.

In 1993, I obtained my Business Management Degree from Barry University and in 1996 I completed my Masters in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. My wife and I started a home inspection and mold inspection business that has been serving South Florida for 7 years.

My sister obtained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and practices in Coral Springs.

Growing up in Philadelphia from the Liberty Bell to the streets of West Philly, I learned what it meant to live in a multicultural melting pot. I saw the nice neighborhoods and those that used to be. In school, I had friends whose fathers were policemen, firemen, teachers, as well as City Council Members.

Prior to leaving for Florida, I was awarded The City of Philadelphia Union League Citizenship Award for my community service outreach. My Eagle Scout project included working with the Police Department to establish a local fingerprinting program for children.

I have spent more than half of my life living in Pembroke Pines. In 1987, my grandparents made Park Place their home and in 1989, I had the privilege of living with them during my 4 years of college. My grandparents showed me what it was like to live on a fixed income, what it meant when taxes and fees went up, when social security did not cover the bills, and how important response time was when the rescue truck was called for a medical emergency.

I remember the days when Flamingo Road was basically the end of the line and how Hurricane Andrew changed our City forever. The expedited growth to the west, the traffic, and of course the crime. More than once, I have been a victim of crime in this City. The most serious was having a loaded gun pulled on me during an armed robbery.

There is no question in my mind we can do better. I feel certain that I can provide the Leadership We Deserve.

We are at a turning point in our City’s history. This past year the Commission declared “Financial Urgency”. Departments have been transitioned to private companies. We are paying more and getting much less service. We see the same vendors given contract renewals instead of going out for competitive bids.

I believe in the need to infuse metrics into the measurement of our effectiveness of government. We can no longer afford to judge our effectiveness based on some blind adherence to tradition. And frankly I think my opponent stands in complete defense of status quo. We just can’t afford that kind of narrow minded focus when there are issues that must be addressed and systems that must be fixed.

I am currently serving as three term Chair of our City’s Economic Development Advisory Board and two term Vice Chair of the Broward County Central Examining Board for General and Specialty Contractors.

As Chair of the City’s Economic Development Board, we have created innovative initiatives that have been recognized by many that will take this City to its deserving place for the residents. This is the type of Leadership We Deserve.

My understanding of the challenging Real Estate market and the struggles our retired and working class families experience in this tough economy is the type of Leadership We Deserve.

I serve as Co-Chair of the Miramar/Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee whose task is to foster economic development and job growth for small businesses. As a member of the Miramar/Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, it is our task to monitor and educate the public on Local and State issues.

As the resident that reached out to the Commission to pass the City’s first sexual predator ordinance, I believe we must do more in our community to provide our residents a safer City.

You will see me sitting in Chambers as the Commission debates the issues until late hours of the evening.

My community involvement does not stop there. I have been a baseball coach for WPPO & Pasadena Lakes Optimists.

My wife and I have been ardent supporters for the City of Hope Pembroke Pines Chapter and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

 ________________________________________________________________________________

It is my hope that I have given you insight of who I am, what I stand for, and how I can provide the
Leadership We Deserve. I encourage you to reach out to me over the next coming weeks leading
up to the election. It will be my honor to meet you.

Jay Schwartz, Candidate
City of Pembroke Pines Commission, District 2, non-partisan