Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Wilmington City Council approves raises for top staff

City Council approved changes to the city's policy regarding paid time off if the city closes due to natural disasters (Port City Daily photo / File)
City Council gave three City administrators raises at its Tuesday regular meeting. (Port City Daily photo / File)

WILMINGTON — Wilmington City Council approved raises for three of the City’s top staff members at its regular meeting Tuesday.

The three employees — city clerk, manager, and attorney — are the only City staff members whose earnings are determined and approved by City Council.

Pay increases were determined by Council after the employees completed a “self-review” of their performance. The self-review does not include a salary adjustment recommendation; this recommendation derives from the Council Evaluation Committee.

Council raised City Manager Sterling Cheatham’s total salary by 4%, now earning $219,133.24. Clerk Penny Spicer-Sidbury’s salary was also raised by 4%, earning an annual salary of $88,978.35.

City attorney John Joye’s salary increase was significant. Councilman Kevin O’Grady, Chair of the Council Evaluation Committee, said Joye’s salary was “out of whack” with the market.

Council approved a market adjustment to Joye’s salary, up 13% from $162,440 to $185,000.

According to a City spokesperson, the City established a 2.5% merit pool that departments could choose to distribute among their staff in accordance with the employee’s performance against stated objectives.


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