Authority director to receive travel stipend
The executive director of the Fayette County Housing Authority will get a $650-per-month car use allowance, per a resolution approved Thursday by a 3-2 vote of the agency’s board of directors. Board chairman Kenneth L. Johnson made the motion, which was seconded by board vice chairman James V. Bitonti and supported by board member Nancy Sutton.
Board members Beverly Beal and Angela M. Zimmerlink opposed the move, independently stating that all they wanted was an assurance that Harkless wouldn’t use the authority’s Ford Explorer for extended personal trips or vacations.
Harkless in December reimbursed the authority $1,154 for gasoline charged to the authority’s credit card while he was using the Explorer for personal trips over a two-year period. Beal flagged those expenditures while signing checks in her capacity as board treasurer.
At last month’s board meeting, Harkless stressed that he never tried to do anything wrong and said he was operating under the assumption that he could use the Explorer for work and personal trips. Harkless added that when he was hired, he voiced a preference for a monthly car allowance that would pay him for using his own vehicle for authority business.
Harkless got his wish Thursday, as Bitonti agreed with Johnson that giving the executive director a $650-per-month, flat fee stipend was the best alternative. Johnson said that paying Harkless $7,800 a year to use his own car was cheaper than the $13,000-plus cost of maintaining the Explorer for the 24,000 miles a year that Harkless has put on that vehicle.
Harkless’ current salary is $114,682, not counting a 15.3 percent retirement match of that amount. The $7,800 yearly car allowance pushes his non-retirement yearly compensation package to $122,482. With the retirement match of $17,546 included, his total compensation package swells to $140,028.
Johnson said the monthly car allowance not only offers a more streamlined process – Harkless wouldn’t have to engage in any record-keeping of his mileage – but it also covers hidden costs like the extra insurance premium Harkless will have to pay for using his own vehicle for authority business.
“His (car) insurance is definitely going to go up now. But we don’t have to worry about it,” said Johnson.
Beal said during the meeting that it was fine with her if Harkless continued driving the authority’s Explorer, as long as he understood that long-range personal trips aren’t permitted. “I have no problem with Mr. Harkless using the company vehicle, as long as it’s for not for personal use out of town,” said Beal.
Beal also said that it shouldn’t be too difficult for Harkless to keep track of his business mileage while driving the Explorer, as that is a widespread business practice.
After the meeting, Beal said that using a 24,000-miles-per-year benchmark to calculate Harkless’ vehicle use wasn’t a good cost barometer, as that figure includes the personal trips he took to places like Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina.
“That mileage was (boosted by) all his personal trips, for vacation,” said Beal. “Most of it was personal trips … There’s no way you’re going to put 24,000 miles on your car going to work (every day) in Fayette County.
“I can’t see where he doesn’t have to show us where he’s been traveling. I think he should be showing us a mileage sheet. Every place of business does that.”
Zimmerlink also stated that she had no problem with Harkless’ continued use of the authority’s Explorer, as long as he understood the distinction between using it for personal and business reasons.
When Johnson made a comment while she was speaking, Zimmerlink said, “Ken, a lot of times these meetings could go quicker if you don’t make your snide remarks and interrupt me.”
Harkless said that of the 24,000 miles he put on the Explorer in the past year, 35 percent or 8,400 miles were for personal trips. That leaves 15,600 miles per year chalked up to authority business.