Members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors are barred from directly requesting additional information or questioning department heads under the terms of the current county administrator’s contract, according to the agreement made with Administrator Beth Simms.
The contract, executed on September 11, 2023, between Simms and the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, specifies that the board and its members must communicate solely through the administrator with county employees who are appointed or directly supervised by the administrator.
Simms assumed her role in October 2023.
The contract outlines several terms regarding her compensation and benefits, including an annual base salary of $120,000. Additionally, the board has committed to increasing her compensation each year by at least the average increase granted to other county employees.
Simms received her first 3-percent raise on July 1, under the current budget approved by the board.
The county agreed to pay for health, hospitalization, surgical, dental, vision, and comprehensive medical insurance to the same extent it does for other county employees, enrollment in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), with the county making the appropriate contributions and withholdings on her behalf. The county also agreed to contribute $2,400 annually—$200 per pay period—into a deferred compensation plan in addition to the base salary.
The contract includes provisions for sick and vacation time. Upon starting, Simms accrued time at the rate of an employee with four years of service, and she was immediately credited with five vacation days and 10 sick days. Simms was required to live in the county within 12 months of her start date, and the county was to reimburse up to $3,000 for her moving expenses, provided she obtained at least three quotes from reputable companies.
The county provides Simms with $500 per month for a vehicle, a business-use cell phone, a work station at the county offices, and both a tablet and a laptop for use outside the office. Simms will also be enrolled in the Certificate of Local Government Management program at Virginia Tech, with the expectation that she completes the certification within 30 months of January 1, 2024.
The contract also covers professional development, including payment for membership dues and participation in organizations such as the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA), and the Virginia Association of Counties (VaCo). The county will also cover travel and related expenses for approved courses, institutes, and seminars.
Terms of the agreement require the board to conduct annual performance evaluations with Simms, define goals and objectives, and assess her performance in meeting those goals.
Doug Perry, chairman of the board, said the evaluation would be done when Simms returns from maternity leave.
