Less than two months ago, Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson requested the port board table discussion of his compensation package that included an increase in salary and a bonus, because of the City's financial situation.
He may now be in a position to receive that raise from the Tampa Port Authority.
The Tampa port board of directors selection committee has searched for a new port director and CEO since August and met Monday to trim its list of candidates from five to three.
Anderson received the most votes that will be included in the final group to be presented today to the full board, said William "Hoe" Brown, Tampa port authority board chairman.
"We will present the final group to the full board today in a noticed special meeting of the board and I expect there will be a vote on who we will make an offer to," said Brown.
Jacksonville port authority board Chair Jim Citrano said Anderson contacted him Monday about the Tampa opportunity.
"He called me this morning and told me he was considering it. He has done a great job here and he is in great demand," said Citrano.
"That is why our audit committee felt he was deserving of the compensation package we offered with a raise in salary and a bonus," he said.
The committee consisted of Citrano, Vice Chairman Joe York and Treasurer John Anderson. It voted in September to recommend to the port board that Anderson's compensation package include a $16,000 raise in salary and $50,000 bonus. The raise would have bumped Anderson's salary from $320,000 to $336,000.
The board was required by Anderson's contract to conduct reviews on an annual basis, but it did not conduct a review in his first year. The board explained that because a review was not conducted for the first year, the compensation adjustments were for two years.
After the Sept. 25 board meeting, where Anderson asked the board to defer discussion of his salary, he revealed that he has received job offers during his time at the port — but such overtures have happened throughout his career.
"But I am committed to do everything I can to grow this port," he said after that meeting.
The raise and bonus upset some City Council members because they were not disclosed during the Council Finance Committee budget review. Port Chief Financial Officer Michael Poole said during the review that he presented the authority's budget not knowing the decision the board would make regarding Anderson's compensation package.
Council has questioned raises in salary for City employees as it deals with ongoing revenue shortfalls, but Council President Bill Bishop suggested Monday that it might start looking at the issue of raises on a case-by-case basis.
"You have to pay what the market rate requires, whether or not you are in a good financial situation, or someone else is," said Bishop.
"We will just have to wait and see how this plays out. My impression is that (Anderson) is doing a great job. He is a dynamic administrator. If he goes, it will be unfortunate for us," said Bishop.
Citrano did not have an answer when asked who would replace Anderson if he was offered the job in Tampa.
"We don't have to answer that question right now because he hasn't taken another job. That is way ahead of the curve right now," he said.
The Jacksonville port board is scheduled to meet Dec. 11, but that may change if it has to search for a new CEO, according to Citrano.
Anderson was not available Monday for comment.
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