2012-03-05 Salary Commission Minutes

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Ms. Wong expressed a curiosity as to why members from Corporation Counsel were there to testify and other departments were not there speaking in favor or against the proposal. She asked whether the other departments were aware of the recommendations. Mr. Takahashi noted that the proposal was not a public recommendation and had been distributed to members of the Commission only. It is now public, however, but he had not distributed it to anyone else prior to the meeting. He believes that the individuals who testified just saw it as part of the agenda. Ms. Lugo commented that one of the reasons for the need to re- evaluate the existing pay plan is because the salaries of the Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys and Deputy Corporation Counsels are currently pegged, by the County Code, to either the Prosecuting Attorney or the Corporation Counsel, whoever makes the higher salary. Under the code, those deputies can make not less than 50% and not more than 90% of the higher salary. Thus, an arguable inequity results if a new Corporation Counsel or Prosecuting Attorney is elected and is put back to step A. That would result in a decrease in the deputies' salaries. Ms. Lugo stated that that may be a reason deputies are testifying today, because the problem perhaps wasn't anticipated when the pay plan was put into place. In any event, it's perceived as unfair and may be something that needs to be remedied. That is one of the reasons the Commission is wanting to look at revising the pay plan - to address what is coming down the road, this being an election year. As Mr. Takahashi stated, the pay plan is maintaining the status quo, so Ms. Lugo believes other departments may have comments, and the Commission might want to continue this to the next meeting to allow for more comments. Mr. Takahashi reiterated that the plan eliminates the tier system, eliminates the multi -step schedule, and eliminates the reference to new appointees going back to step A, so that there would be one set schedule that the Commission can adjust at its pleasure. Ms. Stroh noted that in the future they'd be making adjustments to increase their salaries taking inflation and other factors into consideration. The main thing for her is that they're eliminating the tier schedule and will review at a later time. However, she asked how the December 3 date would affect retirements, such as what happened in the case of Mr. Kimura and Ms. Iboshi. Mr. Takahashi explained that if the pay plan as he proposed is adopted, the salaries would be set at that rate. Therefore, if Ms. Iboshi, for example, were to retire tomorrow, the next person would come in with the I