2013-04-25 Minutes Salary Commission

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Chairperson Lundkvist stated that the Commission needs to look at this and see where they're going. Everyone's grieving about the Mayor, but there are other positions also that they need to consider. Ms. Lassiter stated that Mr. De Lima made a very fine point about looking at the appointees that aren't replaceable like prosecutors in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Fire Chief, and Police Chief. Those people will be there for a long time, and they have big responsibilities. The Corporation Counsel has 25 employees or so and needs to be recognized for the high responsibility, as well as the Police Chief. If they don't keep up with the demand of what their job structure is and they can't replace them, they will never have a well organized running staff of people unless they do accommodate them. Ms. Lassiter stated that she appreciates Mr. Kenoi saying that he doesn't want the raise, and he would give it to the United Way. Perhaps he shouldn't be considered at this time, if that is what he so said, but she feels that it's really important that they hear what Mr. De Lima said and recognize the fact that many of these positions are only for four years. Working on this subcommittee, she can see where they could restructure the salary on some and for others perhaps just leave them where they are. It's true that they don't have enough mango trees out there to cut and pay and not tax the public on this, but on the other hand, the public has to recognize that these are people that are leaders. If the County doesn't have a leader to help them, then it places them in an undesirable position and everyone's fighting for apples that way. She knows it's a terrible time, the economy is bad, but if they don't take care of the people that take care of them, then they're lost. Mr. Sumja stated that he was part of the committee that helped put this recommendation together, and he hears what the people are saying; he hears what the Mayor has said. They lack information on some of these specifics that they need to have. MOTION: Mr. Sumja moved to defer this matter until they have more information that is required to make an appropriate decision. The motion was seconded by Ms. Stroh. Discussion: Ms. Stroh stated that she agrees with Mr. Sumja. They should delay these proceedings on the recommendation that the subcommittee made in lieu of all the testimonies and needing more information. Mr. De Lima stated that he has no objections to deferring it with recognition by this body that if they defer it, they're agreeing that there won't be pay raises the next fiscal year, because the money is going to be approved for the next fiscal year. That would mean if they take action during the next fiscal year, the pay raises probably won't be implemented until July 1, 2014 because this fiscal year started July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014. 4