Comp Time Agreement In Bixby City Manager's Contract Creates Controversy

A local city manager hasn't shown up for work in about four months, but he's still making his more than $150,000 salary.

The Bixby city manager hasn't been hospitalized, but is on extended sabbatical for his health, using comp time to keep his income. The mayor said it's allowed because of the way his contract is written.

News On 6 has obtained a copy of his contract, renewed by four of five city councilors just before the city manager took time off. It allows him to take comp time, "as he deems appropriate." There are no limitations on how much comp time he can take, and city council approved it.

"Item number 17, discussion of the city manager's compensatory time provision and use," Mayor John Easton said.

In a Bixby City Council meeting in August, there were many questions as to why the city manager is taking so much comp time.

Doug Enevoldsen is on month four of his time off, and the mayor said he won't be back until later this year.

According to Enevoldsen's notes he keeps in personal journals, he's accrued 2,800 hours of comp time during his five years with the city. That's enough to take almost a year and a half off.

City Councilor Harold King said, "I don't know where, in any place I've ever heard, that you could keep track of your own comp time and nobody else had the right to look at it."

King is one of the city councilors who voted to renew Enevoldsen's contract in June.

The part about comp time reads the city manager can "take compensatory time off as he deems appropriate during normal business hours" and he "agrees to provide the employer with timely reports of [his] activities."

No one has to verify Enevoldsen's personal notes of his own overtime.

City Councilor Richie Stewart: "And there's also no cap for how much comp time he gets, correct?"
City Attorney, Patrick Boulden: "Right."
Stewart: "So, like, for example, police and fire have a cap, but he doesn't have a cap?"
Boulden: "Yes."

Easton said all of Enevoldsen's time sheets and personal notes of his overtime will be submitted to an accountant, Wednesday, to be audited.

"That's not an unreasonable amount. Doug's been here for five to six years. That equates to about ten extra hours a week," he said.

Enevoldsen released a statement, saying, "I have been on sabbatical for health reasons under the advice of my physician. The time I've taken is time contractually allowed to me under my contract."

The city council meeting in August got pretty heated when discussing why Enevoldsen is allowed to take so much comp time.

Watch The Meeting Here

We've filed an open records request for all of Enevoldsen's time sheets, and personal notes.