Century Losing Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather

October 1, 2021

Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather has notified Century that he is leaving when his contract ends December 1.

“I will not be requesting a renewal or extension to the contract, as I have decided to fully retire,” Prather wrote in an email to the council and mayor. “It has been a privilege to serve with the Mayor and Council, these last two (2) years, and I wish continued success for the Town.”

Prather is paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week ($62,400 yearly). He has complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he is not be paid overtime but is allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He also receives a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but does not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.

When his contract was extended for a year in December 2020, the council did so with the stipulation that they review his performance at least every quarter. With three quarters already passed this year, the council has not held a single review.

Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Buz Eddy came on board in July 2019 following a scathing grand jury report on previous town operations.

Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job. Prather holds wastewater and water certifications in addition his on the job experience.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Century Losing Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather”

  1. Susie on October 3rd, 2021 9:31 am

    Prather would rather
    gather and go
    instead of deal with the woes
    Watch out for the doe..
    (Southern for “door”). ;-)

  2. Alan on October 2nd, 2021 8:02 am

    I feel like a broke record commenting on these articles but here we go:

    Century residents, revoke your charter…revoke your charter….revoke your charter.

  3. Panhandler on October 1st, 2021 5:19 pm

    Hey Boutwell,

    How much longer are you and your council going to allow Century to be the laughing stock of the Panhandle? It’s really getting exponentially more humorous as time goes by.

  4. Mike on October 1st, 2021 1:14 pm

    Ha Ha Ha… Even the professional says nope. See ya

  5. William 2 on October 1st, 2021 10:20 am

    I don’t blame you Mr Prather, the Century town council is and always has been a joke, you are doing the right thing, because you would have eventually been blamed for the failures of the town council!!!

  6. Big Jim on October 1st, 2021 8:55 am

    Big loss for Century. It will not be easy (or as inexpensive) to fill the Town Manager position with someone else with the equivalent skills and experience as Mr. Prather. Enjoy your retirement, sir!

  7. Chris on October 1st, 2021 7:56 am

    “With three quarters already passed this year, the council has not held a single review.” This sounds like Century to me.

  8. Citizen on October 1st, 2021 12:57 am

    ugh,
    Hate to see you go/
    Great job you were doing.
    Thanks

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News