Last night, the Tiverton Town Council approved a three-year contract for new Town Administrator Patrick Jones that pays him $165,000 annually, according to Town Council President John G. Edwards, V. That’s a nearly 50 percent increase over the previous administrator.
Jones, who had been acting administrator since December, replaces Christopher Costa, who resigned after four years as administrator and was paid $111,000, according to the town’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget.
The $165,000 salary is among the highest among chief executive officers in Rhode Island, according to a 2024 salary survey. Executive officer salaries in 2024 ranged from $75,000 to $189,720 (East Greenwich). According to reports, Newport is paying its new city manager, Colon Kennedy, $225,000 annually.
Jones, who was the town’s police chief, had been serving as acting town administrator since December, receiving his chief’s salary, plus $1,000 a month, Edwards said.
As chief of police, Jones earned $110,633 a year, according to the 2024-2025 town budget.
He’ll now relinquish the chief’s position, which he held for the last seven years. Edwards had said previously that it is likely that Deputy Chief Jimmy Costa would be appointed acting chief.
A month ago, the council voted to hire Jones, authorizing Edwards to negotiate the employment contract.
Jones had applied for the position, withdrew and then reapplied.
There were seven applicants, and two were recommended to the council by the personal board. Edwards said the other finalist “backed out.”
A member of the Tiverton Police Department for nearly 36 years, Jones spent the last seven years as chief.
One of his first challenges will be hiring his replacement as chief of police.
Jones joins a growing list of former police chiefs and police officers who have been hired as town managers. Former Rhode Island State Police Colonel James Manni is town manager in South Kingstown; Narragansett town manager James Tierney is a former assistant patrol commander in the South Kingstown Police Department; former Westerly Police Chief Shawn Lacey is that town’s manager; and Jeffrey S. Allen, a former Charlestown Police Chief, is that town’s manager.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Roger Williams University in criminal justice, an MPA from Anna Maria College in public administration, has a certificate from the University of Virginia, and has attended a leadership program at Harvard’s Kennedy School.
