Government workers paid big on leaving Metro

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Several employees who followed City Administrator Dan Tangherlini from Metro to the D.C. government made six-figure salaries during their short tenures at the transit agency, were eligible for thousands of dollars in paid-out vacation time and received significant raises after switching jobs.

Mr. Tangherlini left Metro in November and officially began working in the Fenty administration Jan. 2.

His employees at Metro included Emeka C. Moneme, who was recently named director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

Mr. Moneme began working as Mr. Tangherlini's chief of staff -- an executive management position at Metro -- on Feb. 16 at an annual salary of $135,000.

After being appointed to lead DDOT by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in December, Mr. Moneme officially left his Metro position Jan. 2. According to Metro's vacation policy, executive management employees receive 27 annual leave days every Jan. 1.

That policy means Mr. Moneme was eligible to receive a nearly $10,000 payout for vacation time.

Metro officials said the agency could not confirm whether Mr. Moneme was paid that amount, citing employee privacy rules. DDOT spokesman Erik Linden also said DDOT officials could not comment on Metro personnel matters.

At DDOT, Mr. Moneme will make $145,000 -- 13 percent more than his predecessor, former DDOT director Michelle Pourciau, who made $128,000.

In a November interview with The Washington Times, Mr. Fenty said he planned to streamline city government in part by not increasing the salaries of agency heads.

Another former Metro employee who works in city government is Tony Dorsey, a former television journalist who worked in the new position of director of public affairs at the agency.