The Durham Marriott Hotel has confirmed to me that the City of Durham’s employee appreciation luncheon is scheduled to take place at Noon today in Rooms 101 thru 104 of the hotel. Last week there was some question about it, but clearly, officials feel no need to save that money.
Estimated cost to the city that is, by the way, $5.5 million in the hole: $19,000.
According to this News & Observer blog, here is what the bulk of the $19,000 is being spent on:
$7,695 for facility rental and food
$7,170 for retiree watches
The N&O reports that 345 employees have been invited to the luncheon. That’s about 15 percent of Durham’s 2,300 or so employees. Perhaps this is why and how Councilman Eugene Brown, who wanted the event to be cancelled, came up with his estimate of a $45,000 hit to the city when one factors in lost productivity.
Obviously, Durham officials are not yet ready to distinguish between needs and wants. Thus, Durham taxpayers get stuck with the bill for everything from police and fire to retiree watches.
