MATA’s proposed interim CEO would make $486 an hour
by: April Thompson
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — We’ve been looking into the cost of consultants for MATA, Memphis Police and now possibly, the school system, where consultants are being brought in or at least being talked about to help correct problems.
The price tag is adding up, and for some it’s hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Memphis Area Transit Authority is under fire after a scathing a report from consulting firm Transpro, finding “frivolous use of taxpayers dollars.”
Now the city is considering bringing on Transpro representative John Lewis as interim CEO of MATA, to take over for interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin.
A cost proposal was presented at MATA’s board meeting this week.
It lists Lewis’ labor at $486 an hour. When added with oversight and other executives’ labor, the total cost is more than $1 million.
“I am a little bit hesitant to engage in discussions when it seems like there will be a payment of about $400,000 for a part- time CEO, less for a part-time COO and CFO,” said MATA board member Jackson McNeil.
The City of Memphis also hired a consultant to work with Interim Police Chief CJ Davis and the Memphis Police Department on Public Safety.
Mayor Paul Young said Fausto Pichardo, a former New York Police Chief, was brought on to support Chief Davis and offered suggestions to make MPD more efficient.
But in this case, the city said his undisclosed consulting fees were being paid by First Horizon Bank.
Now there has been a suggestion that embattled Memphis Shelby County School Superintendent Marie Feagins may also need a consultant to help maneuver her job, which is now on the line.
It’s just another cost, as leaders already on the job are given help to stay there.
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