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Washougal inks $94,000 contract with finance director

Severance guidelines revamped after predecessor's firing

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: July 21, 2010, 12:00am

The Washougal City Council unanimously approved the employment contract for its new finance director Monday night.

Jennifer Forsberg was sworn into office at the city council meeting Monday and will begin her employment with the city July 29.

Forsberg will receive a monthly salary of $7,840 — $94,080 annually — as well as medical, vision and dental benefits, long-term disability and life insurance. The current salary range for the finance director/city clerk position is $6,161 to $8,398 per month.

Forsberg will receive a performance evaluation prior to Dec. 31 and will be considered for a merit pay increase at that time. After this December, she will receive annual evaluations. Forsberg’s contract also requires her to obtain an official bond conditioned on the honest and faithful performance of duties.

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Forsberg is an at-will employee. If Forsberg is terminated involuntarily or asked to resign she will receive severance pay ranging from three to six months, depending on her length of employment with the city. Should she be fired for gross negligence, improper conduct, conviction of a felony, conviction of a misdemeanor involving dereliction of duty or resign voluntarily she will not receive severance.

The contract was drafted following the guidelines established in the city’s department head compensation manual, which was updated in February.

Forsberg’s contract varies considerably from former Finance Director Jeffrey Bivens’ contract. Bivens had a monthly salary of $9,167 — $110,000 annually — and his contract required severance pay even if he was fired for cause.

Bivens’ employment was terminated in December after failing to receive the city’s required bond coverage. Bivens received a severance of five months’ pay.

Forsberg, 35, worked for the Washington State Auditor’s Office for the past nine years, most recently as a fraud investigations manager. She has lived in Washougal with her husband and three children for the past six years.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.

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Columbian Health Reporter