By Linda Kor The Holbrook City Council has awarded City Manager Ted Soltis an extended two-year contract along with a $4,000 raise for a total base salary of $116,000. The contract also includes 160 hours of vacation time and a six-month salary severance package should he be terminated within the term of the contract. The discussion regarding Soltis’ review was held in executive session last Thursday, as is the right of the employee. Mayor Merrill Young later stated that the extension of contract was based mainly on Solits’ handling of the budget and the savings he has produced for the city. “He has saved us around $240,000 renegotiating smaller contracts over the past two years,” noted Young. Young acknowledged that there are concerns with Soltis’ handling of the public and that will be addressed. “One of the advantages Ted has is that he’s not affiliated with anyone or anything in town. He doesn’t have any bias towards any organization. He doesn’t’ have a religious organization that he’s preferential to.” Although residents had expressed discontent with Soltis’ performance through a recent community survey and also in social media, the residents do not attend council meetings to express those concerns and there were no residents present to express any opinions at the city council meeting prior to the council entering into executive session. In other business, Young presented the letter from Councilman Mark Jackson stating that he would be leaving the council for personal reasons. Jackson thanked the council and the public for allowing him to serve. Young also noted that Jackson’s son, Shane Jackson was chosen by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for Deputy of the Year for 2020. The council adopted the 2012-2014 amendments to the tax code for the City of Holbrook.
