Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola confirms that Michael Drake, who has directed the office of sustainability for North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays and worked on federal grant programs, has been hired for $100,000 a year to be the city’s chief services officer to oversee efforts to enlist volunteers and other organizations in providing local services. He’ll start work Sept. 27.
Correction: The city agrees to pay at least $100,000 in salary and benefits (or up to $100,000 in salary, with additional benefits borne by the city) from a Cities of Service Leadership Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. A city spokesman says starting pay will be $65,000; I’ve asked for what the $35,000 in benefits will provide. The city also will be responsible for covering the cost of office, equipment, technical support, human resources and travel costs. Drake said he didn’t have time to talk today because he was working on plans for a meeting tomorrow on a $1.5 million federal grant to promote obesity prevention in public schools. I’m not sure what his pay was in North Little Rock or whether there are plans to replace him in City Hall.
Here are the details on the grant and new job in Little Rock, including the contract on spending the grant money. Little Rock is one of a number of cities participating in the program.