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Port Authority OKs Director's Raise

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By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

TAMPA - The Tampa Port Authority on Tuesday unanimously approved a 4 percent pay increase for port director Richard Wainio, bringing his annual base salary to $245,000 beginning March 7.

Port commissioners, in a 6-0 vote with Lance Ringhaver absent, also renewed Wainio's contract until March 6, 2012.

The pay raise would put the Tampa port director's base salary on par with ports ranging from Los Angeles at $267,500 to Jacksonville at $225,000, a survey by Martin Associates for the American Association of Port Authorities showed. The Jacksonville salary does not include allowances and bonuses.

Wainio succeeded George Williamson as port director in March 2005 with a three-year contract at a base salary of $210,000. His salary with a smaller planned annual adjustment as of Jan. 1 would have been $235,000.

The raise and contract extension approved Tuesday followed a discussion at last month's meeting when commissioners gave high marks on their appraisals.

Although none of the commissioners questioned Wainio's performance Tuesday, two of them questioned aspects of the contract, but voted to approve it.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, also a port commissioner, raised the point that the city did not have a severance clause similar to the port's contract with the director. It could cost the port up to about $1 million if Wainio were to be terminated early in the contract at the pleasure of the board and not for reasons such as committing a felony, Iorio said.

Port commissioner Joe Hartley questioned whether the director should be evaluated in accord with some quantifiable measures of port performance. Others on the board suggested that could lead to focusing on certain measures simply to meet a pay incentive.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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