Personnel File

DDA splits executive responsibilities between two new leaders

By Brandyss Howard

Dana Nottingham sat silently at the head of the table, wearing a smirk and a suit with no tie, as Miami’s Downtown Development Authority agreed to honor his separation package and appointed two government executives — Miami-Dade County employee Alyce Robertson and city of Miami employee Meredith Nation — to temporarily share his responsibilities.

The March 7 board meeting was the last for Nottingham, the agency’s embattled, five-year executive director who was highly criticized after a December audit of the DDA’s finances revealed numerous questionable expenditures.

“We thank Mr. Nottingham for his dedicated years of service and wish him good luck,” said Miami Commissioner and DDA Chair Joe Sanchez. “This is not an admission of guilt by any party. This is an equally mutual decision.”

After City Auditor Victor Igwe released his scathing report, Nottingham resigned from his post in January and began negotiating with several board members and Assistant City Attorney Veronica Xiques, who serves as the DDA’s legal counsel, a $220,000 severance package. It includes 10 months’ salary — $182,000 of which he will receive this week — plus benefits, unrealized bonus potential, accumulated vacation time, and retirement. In return, the former director will waive rights to file lawsuits for older workers, discrimination and civil rights claims. If he pursues such suits, he will forfeit his right to compensation and will be required to repay all money distributed to him.

Nottingham is, however, entitled to file compensation for equal opportunity workers, worker’s compensation and unemployment, as the rights to these claims cannot be waived under Florida law.

“When Dana’s 2003 contract was executed, there were provisions that are pursuant to and in compliance with those the board has agreed to honor,” said board member Jay H. Solowsky, who headed the DDA’s Severance Committee. “Mr. Nottingham is not being given anything. He’s getting what was in his contract.”

As far as the future of the DDA, Sanchez appointed a search committee to select an interim director until the position is permanently filled.

“Whatever process we establish [to find a new director] should be flexible, not rigid, and we should keep this process open and fluid,” said Search Committee Chairman Neisen Kasdin. In the meantime, the agency has “interim needs and has found qualified people to fill this position.”

On Friday, the DDA agreed to hire two candidates referred by a search firm for the interim director position.

Robertson, who had to obtain clearance from Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess to take a leave of absence from her job as the county’s community image manager, will become the interim director. She will receive the same $152,000 salary and benefits package — health and life insurance, retirement funds, car allowance and bonus money, totaling an additional $40,000 — that she currently makes with the county. The DDA will be required to split the cost with the county for her services at a dollar-for-dollar rate.

Nation, the city of Miami’s contracts manager in the Department of Capital Improvement Projects, will be hired as an executive on loan to assist during the transition period and will report to Robertson. Nation’s compensation is still under negotiation.

“Their talents and experience [are] complementary,” Sanchez said. “These are turbulent times and we can’t run around in circles while we try to find a new director. Both of these candidates came in with a high level of expertise, and the DDA is fortunate and will benefit from their presence. We don’t want to lose momentum on the things we’ve already established. This is a perfect fit to fall right in so we can continue to move forward.”

Several board members expressed that there must be an understanding between the agency and Robertson that the director position is merely temporary for a period of six to eight months.

“We have made it clear that this is an interim position, but they are free to apply,” Kasdin said. “We will look at candidates that are both interested and capable as we continue to keep an open mind on who we should hire to fill our permanent needs.… We will bring in the right people to move the revitalization of downtown forward at a fast pace.”