With a motion to rescind President Thomas Fallo’s resignation, the board granted him a new contract that includes an added $40,000 a year to his current salary with a 5 percent annual raise.
The board agreed 4-1 to Fallo’s new contract, with the exception of board member Maureen O’Donnell and student trustee representative, Jasmine Hormati.
William Beverly, board of trustees president, said he believes that the board is not overpaying Fallo for what he does as it is not an excessive salary.
“He is one of the best in the state at what he does. As I’ve said before, he can go home and get paid exactly what hes getting paid right now and do nothing or we could induce him to stay by giving him enough compensation to make it worth his while,” Beverly said.
Fallo’s pay– starting Feb.1, will go from $277,000 to $313,000.
Fallo had announced his intent to retire in a board meeting in November, leaving the board with only a few months to find a replacement.
During the meeting, O’Donell said she would like Fallo to stay as president but would not want his pay increased. To that, Fallo said that he would not be willing to postpone his retirement unless this change was approved.
“I thought it went really well tonight, the public had an opportunity to bring forth multiple comments, the board, I think, explained their actions and I think today in the college council I tried to explain the situation. I know it’s difficult for everybody and I hope that as the students urged, let’s get past the debate and get on with the success,” Fallo said.
Beverly said that the reason for this decision was mainly because of the timing of Fallo’s planned retirement, the time required to find a reasonable and experienced successor and that there were “emotional and economic factors.”
During the Jan. 15 meeting, Ken Brown, board of trustees vice president, said he was weary of the process as the board did not have “the framework or what we are looking for in a candidate.”
Beverly added that Fallo would have to refund money earned if he voluntarily steps down before the the new 4-year contract was up.
Several students, faculty and staff voiced their concerns on the raise before the final decision was made.
“To offer the raise I think was in very poor form,” Christina Gold, Academic Senate President said. “I think that students, staff and faculty have been asked to make deep sacrifices and for him (Fallo) to then accept the raise, I think on principle, sets a very poor example.”
Gold added that Fallo however, has done an excellent job in leading the campus with budget and construction.
Dillan Horton, ASO Director of Student and Community Advancement said he thought the boards approval of the raise in pay would give students, EC employees and the community a negative view of the board.
With faculty and staff not being given a raise since 2008, Gold said she “worried that this decision would make it hard to continue to ask for sacrifices.”
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