By Sara StrongLuverne’s newest city administrator has a definite contract to start the job Sept. 2. The Luverne City Council unanimously approved the agreement in a special meeting Friday.Greg LaFond, currently Altoona, Wis., will have a beginning annual salary of $74,000, which will increase at six months and 12 months after performance evaluations.LaFond will get health, life and disability insurance coverage at the same level as other city employees and will receive the same number of holidays per year as other employees.As he starts, he will get credit for five years of service, which provides for three weeks of vacation per year. In addition, he will have five days of relocation time to be taken during the first year on the job.Upon starting, LaFond will receive a 20-day bank of sick leave and accrue sick leave until the sick leave bank is satisfied. Then he will continue to accrue one day per month to the maximum allowed by the city policy.The car allowance of $200 per month (which some on the City Council had previously questioned) was left in the agreement, but the Council will review the car allowance at budget time. The money is for use of the administrator’s personal vehicle on city business.LaFond will receive a lump sum of $5,000 for relocation of household goods to Luverne. If he leaves before being on the job three years, he has to repay portions of the moving expense.The Council can terminate an administrator’s employment without cause at any time, so administrators negotiate for severance packages.If the Council terminates employment with LaFond within the first two years, he will receive six months severance compensation. If the Council terminates employment without cause during the third year of employment, he will receive five months severance pay; during the fourth year, four months severance; during the fifth year and thereafter, he will receive three months severance pay.In order to be terminated without a severance, the Council would have to prove that there was a willful neglect of duty; gross inefficiency or inability on the job, or wrongful or illegal acts in the office. If LaFond leaves on his own, he is required to give the Council 30 days notice.When LaFond starts, he will be relieving Luverne attorney Jeff Haubrich, who served as interim administrator since Matt Hylen left the job in March.
