Palmer leaves BREC with $113K payment for accrued time

Bill Palmer—whose last day as superintendent of East Baton Rouge’s park system was Friday—will collect $113,375 from BREC for unused vacation, sick and comp time he accrued over his 32 years with the department, BREC records show. As superintendent, Palmer was entitled to 24 days of paid vacation per year, as well as 24 sick days, according to the contract he inked with BREC in December 2008. He also was eligible for up to 80 hours of comp time and received $656 a month for an automobile allowance. Palmer is collecting on 1,152 hours of unpaid vacation and sick time, the maximum allowed under his contract, as well as 40 hours of comp time. At $95.11 per hour (calculated from Palmer’s annual salary of $197,387), that adds up to $113,375, before taxes. Carolyn McKnight-Bray, who took over the helm as the new superintendent of BREC Monday after working alongside Palmer last week, is being paid $150,000 per year. McKnight-Bray’s contract also calls for an auto allowance, health insurance benefits and 100 hours of paid leave per year.