2023-08-04 Salary Commission Minutes

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Salary Commission August 4, 2023 So, having given that speech and heard all of us different thoughts, I think the best thing to do is try to add that new column to see where we are. MS. NAMAHOE: May I, kind of, summarize what I heard you say and then you correct me. ACTING CHR FARAHL Sure. MS. NAMAHOE: So, we're going to add a new column. We're going to call it "18 percent" because, again, we're right now just trying to find some place that starting is the arears portion of up to 2023—and then going from there as the new floor, and then looking at the suggestion being what incremental increases will be for the next two or three years. Is that what we're saying? ACTING CHR FARAHL That's not what I'm saying. The counsel said that we don't pay arears, right. MS. GREENBAUM: No, we don't. MS. FRENZ: That is correct. So, this is Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz. Let me just jump in and clarify something—and also note I see Police Commissioner Bertch with his hand— his remote hand up wanting to address the Commission, if allowed by the chair. First things first. I want to differentiate that I have very clearly, I think, Acting Director Patel has indicated, we do not allow for merit -based. I think that's been made clear. However, that's different than what I think I hear you saying, Chair Farahi or Vice -Chair Farahi that you want or acknowledging a police commissioner or Bertch's comment about being behind the eighth ball trying to project, for example, this Commission is able to do an increase. It could vote on an increase—whatever that may be—whether it's to make up the deficit for not having increases for the last five years or not—whatever your rationale is. And you can, likewise, also include annual increases going forward to cover, for example, the fact that this Commission may not meet for the next five years—if not longer or sooner, right—that would already cover annual increases going forward, if you wanted to. So, it sounds like I think, Vice -Chair Farahi, you're indicating a desire to have that ability. You have that ability now. It's just cannot be based on merit. So, I just want to clarify that. You can do that. This Commission can do that now. You could do step increases—it was suggested Bargaining Unit 13 was the one to follow and track as being most similarly situated to the appointed individuals and department heads before your consideration. You can do that in addition to doing increases—it just cannot be based on merit. So, that's my clarification. ACTING CHR FARAHL Okay. I think we are getting to where we need to be. Just Page 23