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action on the budget would be after the legislature adjourns, probably at the <br />end of April, so the Council's final decision is usually made at the May <br />meeting. So if the Commission met the fourth Wednesday in March, that <br />would give sufficient time for the subcommittee to meet and consider what <br />revisions they may want to make to the salary schedule. <br />Mr. De Lima, for one, thinks that at a minimum they should increase <br />the salary for the Parks & Recreation director and deputy to receive the same <br />pay scale as the other cabinet officials. Mr. De Lima explained that at some <br />point back, there was a concept that a distinction should be made between <br />certain departments. Quite frankly he doesn't know what logic was used in <br />terms of Parks & Recreation, one of the largest departments, with the biggest <br />responsibilities and the most complaints in context of whether parks are <br />being maintained and are clean; and that director gets paid in the lower tier <br />rather than the higher tier. <br />Another is the Director of Information Technology, which is most <br />critical in terms of technology, and he is paid in the lower tier. <br />Research and Development, another department very important to our <br />County, is placed in the lower tier. Again, he doesn't know what logic went <br />into it, but he thinks the same logic they recently employed to Council <br />members having all the same pay should be applied to the directors and the <br />deputies as well. He believes the Commission can make a quick correction to <br />this, with minimal impact, prior to the budget being finalized. <br />Thereafter, whether the Commission wants to do bigger things in <br />terms of adjusting the Mayor's salary and adjusting everything accordingly <br />is something that the subcommittee can discuss, but the Commission can at <br />least take quick action on the directors and deputy directors before the <br />budget gets finalized. <br />Vice Chair Lassiter stated that she agrees with Mr. De Lima, but she <br />also disagrees, as she believes Mr. De Lima left out two key departments that <br />the Commission talked about before and passed over, and that's the Police <br />Department and the Fire Department. Those department heads should be <br />brought up to where they are not making less than their subordinates. The <br />assistant chiefs, for example, make more than the Police Chief. She's all for <br />Parks and Recreation, but they don't patrol the streets, they don't put out <br />fires. That's something the Commission needs to discuss. <br />Mr. De Lima noted that the Commission took action on the Fire Chief's <br />salary last year to bring that position in equity with the Police Chief. Right <br />now, the Prosecuting Attorney, the Fire Chief, and the Chief of Police all get <br />paid more than the Mayor. He's not averse to what Vice Chair Lassiter is <br />saying; all he's trying to point out is that the others are lower. <br />Vice Chair Lassiter stated that it's the responsibility of the <br />subcommittee to pull it together and come up with recommendations. <br />3 <br />