Reilly’s good grades may bring big raise

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Aug. 2, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

Equipped with favorable performance reviews from peers, employees and customers, Clark County Manager Thom Reilly reportedly will request a 10 percent raise Tuesday during his first-year evaluation.

If the raise is granted during the board's closed-door session, Reilly's salary would be upped to $176,000 a year.

For the first time in county history, the manager was subjected to a "360 Evaluation" during which consultants interviewed Reilly's peers, managers who report to him, customers and employees who do not report directly to him.

When Reilly was hired last July, replacing Dale Askew, he recommended the thorough review and vowed to make the results available to the public.

The anonymous administrators who report directly to Reilly commended the manager for his energy, intelligence and accessibility.

"His main goal is to make Clark County a better place in which to live and work," one comment reads. "He is responsive and strives to be proactive in all areas. He truly cares about the employees and it shows in morale."

Several employees and clients or customers interviewed by the HayGroup touted Reilly's ability to resolve problems tainted by politics.

"Thom has also established a reputation for a very high degree of integrity, of doing what is right regardless of which powers that might be behind an issue, again at some personal risk to himself," one peer wrote.

A county-produced report shows Reilly has met the goals outlined in his "performance contract." Those performance standards include organizational management, commission support, community relations, intergovernmental relations, employee relations, professional status and skills and service delivery.

Perhaps one of Reilly's more significant accomplishments was the organizational review of county departments. By shuffling departments to make services more efficient, Reilly eliminated six positions. The move saves the county $700,000 annually.

Reilly inherited his share of troubles. He recently assigned Aviation Director Randy Walker to supervise the over-budget and late Regional Justice Center.

If Reilly's raise is approved, it will move put him in line with other top officials in the Las Vegas Valley.