SACO — City Administrator Kevin Sutherland’s contract with Saco has been renewed for another year.

Sutherland began his position in Saco in September 2015 with a starting salary of $110,000 with an increase to $120,000 after his first year. With cost of living increases factored in, he now earns $125,454.

Sutherland recently negotiated a one-year contract and with an additional salary increase that will bump him up to $128,000 a year in October.

The contract was approved in a five to two vote on Monday, with Councilors William Doyle and Alan Minthorn voting in opposition.

“It’s an $18,000 increase from when he started…..that’s a lot of money for one person,” said Doyle. He said he couldn’t in good conscience vote in favor of the contract.

Councilor Nathan Johnston said the salary increase brought Sutherland more in line with people in the same position from similar communities.

“It’s the going rate for the position. That’s the reality of it,” said Johnston.

Councilor Lynn Copeland said Sutherland was an excellent city administrator. She said a lot was expected of him and he deserved the raise. “I give him my full support,” she said.

Minthorn said that though he was opposing the contract renewal “on principal,” Sutherland had his full support as well, should the contract be approved. He said that Sutherland had done “one heck of a job” as city administrator.

Sutherland said in an email that he requested a one year contract this time around but will continue with two year contracts in the future.

This will shift his contract cycle so that when a new contract negotiations begin in the spring of an odd-numbered year, the council will have worked with Sutherland for more than a year, and will have time to better evaluate his performance.

Sutherland also negotiated an additional week of vacation, giving him a total of three weeks.

“I have also committed to helping the Council establish a City Policy around a performance review for the administrator and will partake in that as part of the process leading up to further contracts,” said Sutherland.

According to the U.S. Census  bureau, Saco’s population is estimated to be nearly 19,500 people, making it about the 10^th most populous city in the state.

Eric Conrad, spokesman for the Maine Municipal Association said there are about “a couple of dozen” municipal administrators or managers who make an annual salary of between $100,000 and $170,000.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.