Aventura City Manager Eric Soroka has received high praise and is in line for some additional compensation for what commissioners are calling a job well done.

Commissioner Billy Joel reported at the workshop session May 14 on his discussions with Soroka as part of the city manager's annual review. He said Soroka had offered to forgo his scheduled 3 percent cost of living increase due Jan. 1 in exchange for an adjustment in his contractual ability to bank unused sick time. Under Soroka proposal, the 750-hour cap on banked sick time would be raised to 1,000 hours, a move which could net him $100,000 at the end of his city service.

Joel called Soroka "a real gentleman, always thinking of the city," but recommended rejecting the offer in favor of giving the city manager both the sick time adjustment and the COLA adjustment. In addition, he suggested raising Soroka's potential annual bonus from $15,000 to $20,000.

Joel was quickly joined by other commissioners in praise of Soroka's handling of both the administration of city affairs and various capital projects including many extra hours spent making sure the arts and cultural center project got started on the right foot.

He's "irreplaceable," said Commissioner Michael Stern.

Mayor Susan Gottlieb noted Soroka had held the job for 13 years, well beyond the five-year average for city managers. "Longevity doesn't have a price tag," she said.

The commission will vote on Joel's recommendations at a future meeting, likely June 2.

Soroka's base salary is $206,000 and his total compensation package is valued at  about $300,000.