Last week, the Rehoboth Beach commissioners kicked off the new board by welcoming two newly elected members. The agenda for this first meeting focused on planning and organization for the upcoming year. However, the first hour was devoted to commissioner compensation. This is a topic raised several times over the past nine months by Commissioner Suzanne Goode. At the commissioners meeting, she monopolized the discussion, focusing on her various grievances with the board, city solicitor, mayor and city staff. These groups had “blindsided” her and had failed to advance the changes to the city charter she hoped for. The essence of the change to the city charter that she hoped for was to change it so current commissioners could vote themselves a pay increase that took effect immediately. The current charter allows for commissioners to approve compensation increases, but prohibits those from taking effect until each of the sitting members is re-elected or a new member takes their place.
During her diatribes, she stated several times that she was unable to devote the time and resources to the city business because of the current compensation levels. She also tried to imply that other sitting commissioners may not be giving their best efforts due to the minimal compensation. This was met with swift pushback from those members. Ultimately, two motions were made to increase the compensation. Both failed (5-1 and 4-2) with one member abstaining on both votes.
Commissioner Goode should resign immediately. She completely failed to read the room regarding the commissioners' appetite for increasing compensation. She failed to understand the citizens' interest in increasing compensation, and, most critically, she indicated several times she was not able to devote the time and effort to the city due to the low compensation. As many commissioners pointed out, they understood the workload and compensation when they ran for the position. Commissioner Goode committed to give her best to the city when she ran for office. But now we have heard from her that she is unable to fulfill that commitment. She should resign immediately.
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