CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE DRACUT HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MARY T. KARABATSOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGREEMENT made this 12th day of February 2013 by and between the Dracut Housing Authority, a public body politic and corporate duly organized by law and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and having a usual place of business in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, hereinafter called the Authority and Mary T. Karabatsos, of Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, hereinafter called the Executive Director. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, Mary T. Karabatsos has been duly appointed the Executive Director for and on behalf of the Authority, and WHEREAS, the Authority deems it advantageous to both parties concerned to enter into this agreement whereby the position of both the Authority and the Executive Director may be determined and established, now therefore, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is herein agreed as follows: 1. That the Authority hereby retains and employs Mary T. Karabatsos to be its Executive Director for a term of five years commencing February 12, 2013. 2. That the Executive Director hereby accepts employment and hereby agrees that for the consideration hereinafter set forth she shall perform the duties of Executive Director in conducting the business of the said Authority and perform the duties of Secretary to the Board Members at their regular, special and annual meetings. 3. The Authority currently pays the Executive Director an annual salary of Eighty Eight Thousand One Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($88,114) payable in equal weekly installments effective February 12, 2013. The Executive Director will work for 40 hours per week.
4. That in addition to the salary herein set forth the Authority shall, after approval by the Board of Commissioners, reimburse the Executive Director for the following: a. For reasonable expenses as may be incurred in the conduct of her duties as Executive Director: 5. The Executive Director shall perform the following duties and exercise the following powers, rights and authority of Executive Director : a. The Executive Director shall have the general supervision over the administration of the Authority s business and affairs, subject to the direction of the Board Members of the Authority, and the Authority agrees that the Executive Director shall be the Authority s chief administrative officer and shall be directly in charge of personnel and shall be responsible, subject to the review and approval of the Board, for the hiring and discharging of all personnel. b. The Executive Director shall be charged with the management and maintenance of any and all housing developments of the Authority; c. The Executive Director shall have the care and custody of all funds of the Authority and shall deposit the same in the name of the Authority in such bank or banks, as the Board shall select; d. The Executive Director shall keep regular books of account showing receipts and expenditures and shall render to the Authority at each regular meeting or more often as requested by the Board an account of her transactions and the financial condition of the Authority; e. The Executive Director shall be required to prepare regular reports of the status of projects, result of present policy and to recommend changes in policies to the Board and to keep the minutes and the records of the Authority s meetings in a satisfactory and legal form; f. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the selecting of tenants, the drawing and signing of leases, the collection of rents and the use of legal actions as required under the direction of the Board and subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board; g. The Executive Director shall negotiate contracts and make purchases in accordance with those procedures approved by the Board; h. The Executive Director shall prepare the Management Program, budgets, operating statements, submit regular reports as required by
the Board and maintain an adequate inventory of equipment and materials; i. The Executive Director shall administer the development in its fiscal, budgetary and personnel operations in a business like manner in compliance with the Department of Housing and Community Development and, where applicable, the Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines; j. The Executive Director shall be responsible to the Chairman and the members of the Board for the proper maintenance of all developments and shall implement the policies of the Board of Commissioners; k. The Executive Director shall be required to operate any and all developments in a manner providing for a high degree of livability and appearance at the lowest possible cost consistent with satisfactory administration and maintenance; and l. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the purchase of equipment, materials and labor as required to satisfactorily meet the standards of good and proper maintenance. m. The Executive Director shall be subject to annual performance reviews by the Board of Commissioners within thirty days of the anniversary date of the contract. The Executive Director shall be required to submit a list of accomplishments and a list of goals for the upcoming year thirty days prior to the Board s review. In the final year of the contract, the review process shall be completed prior to the one hundred twenty (120) day renewal period outlined in section seventeen of this contract. 6. That the Executive Director shall be entitled to five (5) weeks of vacation leave for each contract year of continuous employment. In the event of separation or termination for other than cause, a termination of employment for cause, and unused vacation pay shall be compensated to the Executive Director at her regularly established pay rate set fort in this agreement. 7. That the Executive Director shall be entitled to fifteen (15) days (1.25/month) of sick leave during each contract year of continuous employment. However, no compensation shall be made to her for sick leave accrued for her account in the event of separation or termination of employment for cause. The sick leave accrual shall be in accordance with the existing Authority sick pay policy as the same is amended from time to time
8. The Executive Director shall be entitled to all current paid medical, dental and life insurance benefits as are currently available to other personnel of the Authority. 9. Personal Leave - The Executive Director shall be entitled to three (3) days of personal leave each contract year according to the existing personnel policy of the Authority. 10. Bereavement Leave The Executive Director shall be entitled to a maximum of five (5) days of bereavement leave for deaths according to the existing personnel policy of the Authority. 11. Other Leaves and Benefits: (A) The Executive Director shall be entitled, at a minimum, to all other leaves and benefits not specified herein as are currently or may be available to other personnel of the Authority. (B) In addition, the Executive Director shall be entitled to participate in the Authority s benefit plans and any other benefit plans of the Authority established for the benefit of its officers or employees from time to time in effect (subject to the terms of such plans and subject to the votes of the Commissioner s in effect from time to time), and to receive all such other fringe benefits and privileges as the Authority shall from time to time make available to its employees, and shall be eligible to participate in any and all State Retirement and Pension Plans which exist at present or as may from time to time be amended. 12. Professional Association Fees. The Authority agrees to reimburse the Executive Director for professional association dues and her attendance at local and out of state workshops, seminars, and other professional improvement sessions. Reimbursement for such expenses requires board approval, subject to budget considerations, and in accordance with the Authority s personnel policy, DHCD and HUD guidelines. 13. Professional Development. The Authority agrees to reimburse the Executive Director for reasonable expenses related to educational courses, training sessions and the like. Reimbursement for such expenses requires board approval and subject to budget considerations. 14. Cell Phone. The Authority shall furnish to the Executive Director a cell phone to be used by her in connection with her duties as Executive Director. 15. Consultative work or outside business. During the term or any extension of the term of this agreement, the Executive Director agrees not to perform outside employment or consultant work that conflicts with her present duties at the Dracut Housing Authority. No work shall be performed during the
hours that she would be working at the Dracut Housing Authority. 16.Termination of Employment. The Executive Director shall have the right to terminate this agreement before the term is completed by giving to the Authority two (2) months notice in writing prior to the desired termination Date. 17. Non-Renewal. The Board of Commissioners shall provide the Executive Director with one hundred and twenty (120) days notification of its intention relative to the renewal of the contract. 18. That this agreement, executed in triplicate, shall be construed as a Massachusetts contract, shall take effect as an instrument under seal, and sets forth the entire contract between the parties. This Agreement may be canceled, modified, or amended only by a written instrument executed by all the parties.