Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Jon Olson hugged superintendent Jayne Miller before the start of the 2017 City Council meeting where Miller's resignation was announced. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The new leader of the Minneapolis Park Board will likely make $10,000 more than his predecessor.

If the board approves the contract it is considering, Al Bangoura would begin on Jan. 20 with an annual salary of $175,000. Former Superintendent Jayne Miller was paid $166,958 in 2017.

State law caps public employee pay at $175,621. However, the state gave the board permission to lift the salary cap to $194,399 a year.

Bangoura's proposed compensation package is included in the agenda for Wednesday night's meeting. Bangoura is expected to be approved as the new parks superintendent, where his compensation package will also be discussed and voted on.

Other provisions of Bangoura's contract include: 25 vacation days each year — which can be carried over each year, but can't exceed 60 days at the time of separation — and the same health, dental and other benefits as other employees. Miller received an $85 a month cellphone stipend. Bangoura's contract does not include language for a cellphone stipend. He is also entitled to a $10,000 reimbursement for moving expenses.

Bangoura has also expressed interest in living in the historic Theodore Wirth House in southwest Minneapolis. However the contract has no language regarding a potential lease agreement. Miller lived there for about eight years, most recently paying $1,154 a month.

In November, the board selected Bangoura to lead the system after a national, seven-month search. Bangoura is currently the recreation superintendent for Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, which includes Charlotte, N.C.

Before that, Bangoura spent 19 years working for the Minneapolis Park Board. His first job was as a recreation coordinator at Webber Park; he then worked throughout the system.

Bangoura was one of two finalists. Seve Ghose, the Metro Parks and Recreation Department director in Louisville, Ky., had also been in the running for the job.

Bangoura's contract will automatically renew each year until Dec. 31, 2023, unless the board votes to extend the contract in 2020. Also at Wednesday's meeting, the board is expected to extend interim superintendent Mary Merrill's contract until Jan. 19.

Merrill was appointed in January as interim superintendent with a salary of $14,278 per month.

Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647 Twitter: @KarenAnelZamora

Al Bangoura (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Correction: A previous version of this article did not make it clear that the state of Minnesota gave the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board permission to lift the salary cap for its superintendent to $194,399. The story also incorrectly stated the salary of former Superintendent Jayne Miller. She was paid $166,958 in 2017