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The terms of the contract are essentially the same as Crusey’s original contract with the city. His annual salary will remain at $120,000 with an additional $500 per month car allowance. Additionally, Crusey will receive the same benefits as other city employees, such as membership to Vandalia Recreation Center, Cassel Hills Pool and Cassel Hills Golf Course.
One change to the contract is the removal of an incentive to relocate to the city. Crusey’s first contract, approved in 2014, would have reimbursed Crusey up to $7,500 in relocation expenses but did not require the relocation.
The extension to Crusey’s contract comes after a performance review by council. The city review gave Crusey a 2.5 rating on a scale of 1-5.
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“Jon represents the city in a professional manner when attending local and regional events,” the review reads. “There is certainly room for improvement. Council would like to see more leadership and not embrace the status quo. New ideas through leadership – new programs are lacking. He must embrace Vandalia as ‘his’ community and show more leadership in this area,” council said.
Crusey was praised for his work in budgeting, finance, and council meeting preparation. However, his performance goals for 2016-17 “have not been completed or not to a degree of satisfaction.” Council did say that “there is still concern (the city) is not getting all the available funding.”
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Crusey declined to comment for this story, said Julie Trick, from the city’s communications department.
Additionally, the council has developed a project list for Crusey. That list includes: devising plans to combat reduction of all efforts of local control; constructing a plan and vision for the future of the city; presenting a plan to create a assistant city manager position; reporting on all employees who directly report to the city manager regarding performance appraisals, rating, goal, etc.; researching funding for the maintenance of Airport Access Road; and producing a quarterly report on debt reduction and all purchases above $10,000.
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Mayor Arlene Setzer said there will be a reevaluation in six months with a raise considered then. Crusey will also be eligible for retirement this fall.
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