04/08/1985 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

152 COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 1985 Page Ten more efficient. Mayor Benson said the Ways and Means Committee did not had time to do this. Mr. Reinert noted the salary increases range from zero to eight percent. Mr. Marier said Mr. Schumacher did not get a raise, but a bonus instead. Mr. Reinert asked why the Committee did not deal with this as they did the other employees. Mr. Marier said the Committee felt a bonus was more appropriate for this position. Mr. Reinert asked again why did Mr. Schumacher received an eight percent increase. Mr. Marier explained he did not get an increase, he got a bonus. Mr. Reinert said why a bonus? Mr. Marier said he fulfilled his obligations for 1984 and they felt a bonus was appropriate at this time. Mr. Reinert asked why the other employees did not get bonuses. Mr. Marier said because the increases were more subject for their benefit than the Administrator. Mr. Reinert said he felt this was not being fair and was an inappropriate way of hiding something. Mayor Benson explained it is not the intent of the Committee to hide anything. In his opinion he felt in looking over what had been done in the past year and thinking back to the state of the City, there were many key issues which were settled over the last year that were pulled together by the Administrator. He felt a bonus was more appropriate because he did not want to lock into a salary increase because then the City has to pay benefits on it and the City ends up paying a higher adjust- ment than the actual $3,000. He felt this was similar to what was done for Officer Zerwas. It is conceivable that the Admini- strator's performance would not be up to par this coming year so instead of paying, say 5% of $40,000, we will pay 5% of the present $37,000 for the next adjustment. He also has asked the City Administrator to bring a bonus plan to the Council for consideration for all City positions so that we can grant some merit pay for some unusual effort and not be locked into salary and benefit increases. It is conceivable that next year there would be no salary increases but all bonuses. Mr. Bohjanen asked if the City Clerk- Treasurer was starting at a lower base and then going up slower than the others. Mr. Schumacher explained the Ways and Means Committee dealt with this as an entry level position and will be reviewed in July to possibly bring the position closer to entry level. Mr. Bohjanen asked if this individual did this job previous to taking the position. Mayor Benson said she did have a different position. 1 1 1