County manager merits praise for giving up $34K 

Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene deserves praise for taking the high road by relinquishing an increase in benefits worth more than $34,000, explaining that the compensation, which had come under scruity, had proved to be a distraction.

The compensation package awarding Greene 300 hours of compensatory time was approved by the county Board of Commissioners during a June annual budget hearing without comment.

However, when Greene’s compensation came to light, it drew public criticism.  Also, after the vote, two commissioners said they did not even know about the financial award to the county manager. The 300 hours of time could have been cashed in for $34,000, only if Greene leaves her position.

In the aftermath, Greene showed good character as well as political savvy on Sept. 8 by emailing the Board of Commissioners and Curt Euler, director of human resources, noting she was voluntarily asking that her comp time balance be reduced and reiterated that the matter had been a distraction.

Greene earlier had provided the local news media with a balance sheet showing she had worked nearly 3,800 hours of extra time since 2009.

Comp time is a form of overtime in which employees receive time off in lieu of extra pay for hours worked beyond a normal work week. Buncombe offers compensatory time through a straightforward process for certain employees. Greene’s situation is more complicated.

“I am sorry I caused a distraction,” she said in the email “Via this email, I am asking Curt Euler to reduce my comp time balance. This eliminates any possibility that I would be compensated in the future for any of the comp time hours in question.”

We appreciate Greene’s willingness to be above-board on her compensation — and we are confident that her action will bring her good karma for a bright future here.