Just when you thought that politics in North Miami couldn’t get any more corrupt … or bizarre, mayor Andre Pierre can always be counted on to have a trick or two up his sleeve.  In all honesty, if politicians behaved themselves and always did the right thing, political columnists and bloggers would have nothing to entertain our readers with.  Luckily for us pundits, Mayor Andre Pierre and his two cohorts, Councilwoman Marie Steril and Councilman Jean Marcellus, can always be counted on to do something so totally outrageous and so blatantly unethical, watching them in action has truly become a spectator sport.

The fact that the City of North Miami is run by a majority consisting of the most brazenly corrupt city council members that ever convened in the history of South Florida is saying a lot.  Maybe it’s the heat, but we’ve had more than our fair share of political corruption.  Does the name Joe Gersten ring a bell?  Back in October of 2008, travel website MiamiBeach411.com listed the Top 20 Most Corrupt and Crazy Public Servants.  It includes the names of some of our more notorious politi-criminals such as Art Teele and Ken Jenne (although no Joe), and 18 other infamous characters in our recent past who helped our region become the Embarrassment Capital of the South.

If MiamiBeach411.com ever updates the Top 20 list, Andre Pierre is sure to take the Number One slot.  In the meantime, let me entertain you.

On the agenda for tonight’s North Miami Council meeting, the Council will be voting on a Resolution to Amend the City Manager’s Employment Agreement.  You may recall that City Manager Stephen Johnson was the former Chief of Police and Andre Pierre’s hand picked replacement for the previous City Manager.  Apparently it’s not enough that Mr. Johnson gets a fat paycheck and all the bennies that go along with his position, Item 2 of the “Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement” states:

“2.  The parties hereby amend the Agreement to include the following provision relating to severance pay upon termination:  “In the event City Council terminates the services of the City Manager without cause and within the first thirty-six (36) months from the effective date of the Agreement, commencing on November 21, 2011, then the City Manager shall be entitled to twelve (12) months of his then current salary.”

Okay, so let me get this straight.  City Manager Johnson gets the job on November 21, 2011.  If he gets fired “without cause” within the first three years of his employment, he gets to grab a year’s worth of salary from the taxpayers of North Miami and hit the road.  I could argue here that he’s already committed plenty of “cause” to get his ass canned, but that would be besides the point.  Compared to his boss, Johnson is squeaky clean.  I’d love to know where else on earth, whether in the private sector or public, that an employee is able to wrangle such a sweet deal for himself.  Only in North Miami…

In drafting this Amendment to Stephen Johnson’s Employment Contract, mayor Andre Pierre seems to have overlooked one teeny, tiny, minor little detail:

IT’S ILLEGAL!

Not that that’s ever stopped him before.

Section (4)(a) of Florida State Bill 88 was enacted last year, which amends Section 215.425 of the Florida Statute, states:

(4)(a) On or after July 1, 2011, a unit of government that enters into a contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, that contains a provision for severance pay with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor must include the following provisions in the contract:

1. A requirement that severance pay provided may not exceed an amount greater than 20 weeks of compensation.”

Twenty (20) weeks of compensation is a far cry from fifty two (52) weeks of compensation.  WTF?

Seems to me the law is pretty damn clear about this.  Then again, Andre Pierre never let a silly little thing like Florida law stand in the way of his getting what he wants.

Yeah, I’d say this mayor is at the top of the list of South Florida’s “Most Corrupt and Crazy Public Servants.”  Wouldn’t you?

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”