Children’s Services Council Executive Director Cecka Rose Green received high praise from most of the council’s board members, scoring above average on her professional duties in her annual evaluation.
However, during a Thursday executive committee meeting some members didn’t believe her performance warranted a salary increase, as she is requesting.
“I’m not in favor of a raise,” vice chair Terrance Watts said. “I think the salary is sufficient right now.”
Board Treasurer Paul Mitchell also serves on the committee and although he mentioned that Green’s review signified that she “meets or exceeds expectations” in her professional capacity early in the meeting, he later changed his tune, saying he had no appetite to support a pay increase.
“I just think that how she’s being compensated today is appropriate for the job she’s in and the role that she is currently playing. When you take what she’s making, and you look at the scores she received on her evaluation and they’re less favorable this year than they were last year, I’m just comfortable leaving the package as it is.”
On last year’s evaluation, Green didn’t receive any low scores, and all of her ratings were a 3 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5 when collected from the then eight-member council.
The full nine-member council will vote on Dec. 19 to decide the fate of her compensation as her contract is up for renewal by Dec. 31.
Green currently makes $128,750 annually and with her contract expiring at the end of the year she is asking for a pay increase in addition to a vehicle allowance ranging from $250 to $300 a month.
The agency that supports the children and families of Leon County has been heavily scrutinized by opponents for its management of taxpayer dollars. The council’s board approved its first property tax increase in September which is expected to generate over $9 million in new revenue for the next year.
Green was originally tapped to the post in 2021.
Green wasn’t present for the discussion of her pay, but she told the Tallahassee Democrat she was looking for a raise that would reflect her extensive work from the last two years.
“We’ve done a lot I think in the last two years and the first year we were still getting our sea legs,” Green said, adding that included her as well. “We are still learning a lot and growing a lot.”
Under her leadership, the agency has awarded millions of dollars to organizations in its mission to “improve the lives and outcomes of children, youth and families in our community.” The CSC also opened its first Family Resource Center in conjunction with the Children’s Home Society to support families in the county with a plethora of services in one-stop-shop fashion. It also launched a number of programs from high school internships to funding 28 free summer programs.
Green said she hasn’t asked for a specific increase and wants to leave that decision up to the council, but if she doesn’t receive it, she has no plans to walk away from the important work.
“My intent is to continue working on behalf of the children, youth and families of this community. That is what I agreed to do, and I will continue to put my whole heart into that,” Green said.
Board chair Darryl Jones, Watts and Mitchell, who make up the executive council, were all present Thursday to discuss the matter of Green’s evaluation, and a salary increase.
The evaluation covered five benchmarks in her contract: planning, financial and program management, operations management, community relations and advocacy, and governing council relations.
When assessed on a scale of 1 to 5, every council member gave Green a 3 or higher in each category except Simone Marstiller, who was appointed to the board by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May.
Marstiller gave Green a 2 in the category of planning, and said Green’s current efforts need to show progress as it relates to the agency’s goals.
“The council cannot objectively determine whether its ‘investments’ are ‘moving the needle’ in the absence of a strategic plan that contains specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives,” Marstiller said. explaining her rating.
Marstiller is an attorney with Gunster law and lobbying firm and has previously served as the head for three state agencies.
“In the face of limited resources and experienced community partners, Cecka is advancing the mission of the CSC in the community with an appropriate focus on long-term outcomes,” wrote board member Mark O’Bryant, CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. He added that Green needs to improve the CSC’s marketing to give the public a better view of where its headed for the future.
Board member Carolyn Cummings, who also serves as a Leon County Commissioner, said Green “continues to demonstrate strong leadership in her role.”
Thursday’s debate over Green’s compensation spurred discussion on how her salary package compares to that of other directors in the state.
CSC executive directors in Escambia and Alachua counties make $125,000 and receive a $300 car allowance. In Martin County, the executive director makes $150,187 and receives a $350 car allowance.
Jones, who is also a Leon County School Board member, gave Green a 5 in each category. He argued that she had every right to ask for an increase considering her track record from the last two years.
“She had a good evaluation. She hasn’t received a raise in two years and her contract is up for renewal and I think the time is right now to do it,” Jones said. He recommended a 5% increase, the same amount as recent raises doled out to employees of the county and the city.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached atABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X:@AlaijahBrown3.
