Supervisors approve contract for Berkich

Carson City supervisors approved Wednesday a three-year contract with City Manager John Berkich.

Supervisors had postponed approving his contract because of concerns over the size of his severance package, which affords him more than $50,000 pay and benefits for six months

However, Supervisors John Plank noted the chances of Berkich leaving or being fired were "perhaps nil," and Supervisor Richard Staub said it would be unfair to change Berkich's contract after 12 years with the city.

"I'm not going to take away something he started out having and believes he should continue to have," Staub said.

Berkich has a better severance package deal than most surrounding city or county managers in the area. The Reno city manager gets a four-month severance package, while Lyon County's manager has no severance package.

Berkich, city manager since 1990, makes $99,000 a year, with his salary range topping at $107,700.

Supervisors recently set goals for Berkich; he has the opportunity to earn a $19,500 bonus through his work on 10 goals, including economic development, community relations and pushing construction of the Carson City bypass.