Purcellville Town Manager’s contract approved

By Valerie Cury

At the end of the Sept. 12 Purcellville Town Council meeting, town council members came out of executive session and approved the town manager’s contract in a 4-2-1 vote. Mayor Stan Milan, Vice Mayor Chris Bertaut, and Council Members Carol Luke and Boo Bennett voted to approve Rick Bremseth’s contract. Council Members Mary Jane Williams and Erin Rayner voted against approval and Ron Rise Jr. was absent for the vote.

With salary and benefits, Bremseth makes $1,000 less a year than former town manager David Mekarski, whose employment with the Town of Purcellville was terminated earlier this year in a unanimous town council vote. 

Bremseth’s base salary is $195,000 whereas Mekarski’s was $186,379. Including all benefits, Bremseth’s salary totals $248,819 while Mekarski was making $249,776. 

Mekarski’s contract with the town commenced on March 13, 2018, at the initial base salary of $150,000 annually. He opted into the Nationwide 457 Deferred Compensation Account which amounted to 6 percent of his salary at the yearly cost of $11,183. Mekarski’s contract also stated that he had to be the highest base compensated paid town employee. His vacation time started with “vacation leave in accordance with an employee with ten (10) years of service.”

Mekarski, who moved from Illinois, also received $1,000 per month for up to 6 months or until his out of state residence was sold. At the time of his move to Purcellville, the town also gave him moving expenses up to a maximum of $10,000.

Bremseth did not opt into the Nationwide 457 Deferred Compensation Account, nor is there language for him to be the highest base compensated paid town employee.

The current average base salary for a town the size of Purcellville ranges from $220,000 to $230,000 annually.

Under the code of Virginia, the Virginia Retirement System mandates VRS membership for eligible employees. Even if an employee should choose not to participate in the system, it is not allowed under the Code of Virginia.

Bremseth, a former resident of Purcellville, lives in Round Hill with his wife Marlena.