Politics & Government

Contract Comparison: How New Worcester City Manager Batista Stacks Up

See how Worcester City Manager Eric Batista's compensation package compares to predecessors dating back to 1993.

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Thirty years ago, Worcester agreed to pay up to $700 a month to incoming city manager Thomas Hoover to lease a vehicle — as long as the car was made in the U.S.
Thirty years ago, Worcester agreed to pay up to $700 a month to incoming city manager Thomas Hoover to lease a vehicle — as long as the car was made in the U.S. (City of Worcester)

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester, it seems, used to have something against Honda and Volkswagen.

Thirty years ago, the city agreed to pay $700 per month for a car lease for then-city manager Thomas Hoover — as long as the car was made in the U.S., according to documents provided by the city.

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista, the city's seventh manager since 1950, will officially be sworn-in Friday. A review of his contract and the three preceding managers — Ed Augustus Jr. Michael O'Brien and Thomas Hoover — shows a pretty similar set of clauses covering items like salary, severance terms and perks like take-home vehicles.

But each manager received differing amounts of compensation.

Even adjusted for inflation, Batista will take office as the most highly-paid city manager in terms of salary. Batista is also the second recent city manager to have ascended through the ranks at City Hall to the top job. The other is O'Brien, who worked in the parks and development departments before becoming manager. Augustus did serve as an interim manager after O'Brien left, but came to City Hall from Holy Cross.

As recently as 2021, Batista was earning a base salary of about $116,000 as an assistant city manager. He received an increase to $225,000 when he became interim manager in May.

Here's a look at how key clauses in each recent Worcester city manager contract differed at the start.

Salary

  • Eric Batista (2022-present) — Starting salary of $275,000 for an initial two-year term. (Due to recent inflation, Batista's salary would be worth about $218,000 in 2014, the year Augustus took over.)
  • Ed Augustus Jr. (2014 to 2022) — Starting salary of $193,214 ($242,265.96 adjusted for inflation). Left office at $221,942.
  • Michael O'Brien (2004 to 2014) — Starting salary of $175,000 ($258,173.56 adjusted for inflation). Left office at $189,425.
  • Thomas Hoover (1993 to 2004) — Starting salary of $115,000 ($234,820.06 adjusted for inflation). Left office at $135,986.

Annual raises

  • Batista — 3% annually starting in 2023, but can be less if city union employees get a lower COLA in a given year.
  • Augustus — 2% annually in general.
  • O'Brien — 3% or inflation, whatever is less.
  • Hoover — As determined by city council.

Vacation, sick and personal time

  • Batista — 5 weeks vacation, eligible for 35 sick days paid out if he leaves.
  • Augustus — 10 vacation, 10 sick, 3 personal days to start.
  • O'Brien — 20 vacation, 3 personal, and 2 administrative days to start. Came into office with 94.5 sick days accumulated.
  • Hoover — 4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 30 sick days.

Other benefits

  • Batista — $3,750 each year toward disability and life insurance. Annual payment "to the maximum contribution allowable under IRS regulations" in regular pay to a retirement account.
  • Augustus — $3,000 each year for life and disability insurance, $5,125 toward retirement annually.
  • O'Brien — $167 each month for life and disability insurance. $12,375 annually to retirement fund.
  • Hoover — $133.09 each month toward disability insurance. Hoover also got $1,500 to relocate from his home in Ohio to Worcester.

Vehicle

  • Batista — City-owned vehicle with non-municipal license plates. Fuel from city pumps — or electricity if the vehicle is battery-powered. Tolls reimbursed.
  • Augustus — $1,100 per month toward personal vehicle, plus city gas.
  • O'Brien — City-paid lease of any American-made vehicle of his choice up to $750 per month, plus city fuel.
  • Hoover — City-paid lease of any American-made vehicle of his choice up to $700 per month, plus city fuel.

Severance

  • Batista — All pay and benefits for 6 months or until he finds a similar job, whichever is sooner. Does not apply if found guilty of a crime or immoral behavior.
  • Augustus — 12 months salary and benefits or until he finds similar employment, whichever is sooner. Does not apply if found guilty of a crime or immoral behavior.
  • O'Brien — 12 months salary and benefits or until he finds employment, whichever is sooner. Does not apply if found guilty of a crime or immoral behavior.
  • Hoover — Half the annual salary if removed, except for criminal or immoral behavior.

Removal, resignation

Per the city charter, the Worcester City Council can either vote to remove the manger or at least six councilors can "make a formal suggestion in writing" that the manager leave.

Batista is the first of the recent roster of managers who has to give a specific amount of notice before stepping down: 6 weeks.

Augustus gave about three months notice before leaving. O'Brien notified city council on Nov. 20, 2013, that he would leave by Jan. 5, 2014.

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