Finance Committee
January 8, 2007, 7:05 P.M.
City Water Department, 300 Bliss Ave.

PRESENT: Alderpersons Molski, Walther, Moore, Stroik and Hanson

ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Wescott; C/T Schlice; City Attorney Molepske; City Clerk Moe; Directors Euclide, Gardner, Schrader, Halverson; Assessor Kuehn; Fire Chief Barnes; Chief Morris; Capt. Dowling; Deputy C/T Wroblewski; City Engineer Saunders; Ald. Sevenich, Wiza, Barber, Robinson, Slowinski, Trzebiatowski; Gene Kemmeter; Patrick Thorton; Reid Rocheleau; Mary Ann Laszewski; Pete Ananiadis; Andrew Halverson; Norm Myers; Doug Radtke; Amy Heart; Doug Stingle; Stephen Decker

Index of these minutes:

1. Assessor's Report.
2. Consideration of claim - AT&T/SBC.
3. Mayor's salary.
4. Reapportionment of Special Assessments - Bernard Landerman - Bonnie Bay Road.
5. Approval of payment of claims.
6. Adjournment.

1. ASSESSOR'S REPORT.

Motion made by Ald. Stroik, seconded by Ald. Moore to accept the report of the Assessor and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

2. CONSIDERATION OF CLAIM - AT&T/SBC.

Motion made by Ald. Stroik, seconded by Ald. Molski to deny the claim for AT&T/SBC.

Ald. Stroik stated he is familiar with the situation and the attempted contacts.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

3. MAYOR'S SALARY.

Motion made by Ald. Moore, seconded by Ald. Hanson to approve the Mayoral salary in the amount of $62,396.66 for the next term.

Ald. Robinson asked for clarification.

Mayor Wescott stated we are all familiar with the events of the last 35-40 days. In the month of December, the recommendation that went to the Alderpersons clearly reflected the voice of the Alderpersons as five or six Alderpersons made it a point to offer comments on the salary. He had asked Alderperson Molski to give it some thought and to share with C/T with regard to the memo and salary. He wanted to get outside our dynamic and called former Ald. Jack Barr, who he referred to as a veteran to the Council and is one of our "deans." Since he has been giving guidance to the City in a variety of areas for many years, he asked him his opinion and he was very quick to answer by saying that he would not reduce or increase the salary to reflect the fact we will be electing a new Mayor and it will be someone with no experience. The Mayor went on to say that the salary is no less than the salary that he was going to recommend in November when he was still considered a candidate. He is sensitive to those who make the compelling argument that it should be more. A friend made a good case with him that it should be more and stated they are interesting arguments, but he keeps coming back to where the money flows from. It flows from the people of the City of Stevens Point and we still have many people on a fixed income, people who live in poverty and many people who have limited or a small ability to pay and that is the pool of money that this comes from. He believes that $62,396 is fair and equitable and he supports it. It is no reduction in pay and the fringe benefits that go with this position are spectacular. When you look at the total fringe benefits package, some of the fringes do continue to increase. He stated that we did have a difficult time this year and had to freeze salaries for all the managers and he believes the wage being presented represents a level of equity and fairness for the next Mayor. It provides for the learning curve and at the same time provides a just and livable wage. He heard the arguments where six said to cut it and two said to raise it, but he believes, as Jack Barr said, the fair and equitable thing to do is not cut it and not dramatically increase it. He stated a question was brought up regarding the graph and the 3.6% that was listed. The graph and percent were put there per an aldermanic request to figure out the next four years verses the last four years, but he feels it is not relevant.

Ald. Robinson stated he felt this is a much better recommendation than what was being looked at however, he feels we need to explore it a little further.

Ald. Trzebiatowski asked what the total employment cost is, including benefits.

Mayor Wescott replied that $91,281 is the total annual salary and fringes for the position.

Ald. Walther questioned the City Attorney on what the feeling was on mayoral candidates voting on this item.

City Attorney Molepske stated that the law provides that alderpersons shall vote on this particular issue and since none of the candidates are presently the Mayor, and even if they were, the term expires at the end of April, that the voting shall continue as usual.

Reid Rocheleau expressed concern about the timing of this matter and which committee this item should be in front of. He feels we may have lost an opportunity with someone who may have been interested in the position but did not run because of the wage issue. He wanted some answers as to why this item is in front of Finance instead of Personnel.

Ald. Molski replied that we had a candidate at that time who was head of the Personnel Committee and that the money does come through the Finance Committee.

Doug Radke, 3800 Heffron, stated he felt that the CEO for our City, that has a budget of 22 million and employs over 200 people, should make more than what is being proposed. The responsibilities for the new CEO, which are the same as the current CEO, should be looked at and then the determination should be made as to what the salary should be. The last salary increases for the current Mayor were 1.5, 1.5, 2 and 3 percent and he took a salary cut. The cost of living increased more than those numbers during that four year period. He suggests that we give the new Mayor the same salary increases that we gave the old Mayor. That new Mayor will take a salary cut for the cost of living. We want a Mayor who wants to be Mayor and who feels that he is getting rewarded by the City so that he can do his job. Our self worth is tied up a lot in salaries and, sub-consciously or consciously, if we do not get a salary increase each year, our self worth goes down and we start not doing as well as we should. He strongly recommends that the salary for the Mayor is not froze, nor reduced, but rather give the Mayor the same salary increases for the next four years as what was given to the Mayor these past four years.

Ald. Stroik questioned if we freeze it now, can it be increased next year.

Mayor Wescott stated no, that the wage needs to be decided by the February Council meeting by law. If action is not taken by the Common Council meeting in February, then the salary will be fixed at $62,396 for the next term.

Mary Ann Laszewski stressed concern over a pattern in the 30 year history of the Mayor's salary stating that except for 1976, 77 and 78 when it was frozen, there is a pattern of a gradual increase every year. It seems as though there is a already a history of a annual increase and raise comparable to the inflation for that period of time and it was not solely based on performance of the Mayor. She stated that the Mayor's salary should be able to remain equal to their peers who are also running businesses or government, it should not be compared to City staff or Alderperson salaries.

Ald. Wiza stated that he hoped he speaks for the rest of the Mayoral candidates in that they are educated, experienced and ready to take on the challenges.

Norm Myers stated that while there are some good comments about drawing candidates, it does not apply because the candidates are in for this election. He suggests that at the end of the four year term if we find out that the new Mayor is not really qualified then it is time to get the salary up to draw someone in that can do the job correctly.

Ald. Stroik questioned that if we do nothing, then the salary is frozen.

Ald. Molski replied yes.

Ald. Stroik questioned if he can propose an amendment to this to be voted on or if it is voted no out of Finance can a new motion be made.

Ald. Molski stated that we need to vote on the motion on the floor and if that motion fails a new motion will be entertained.

Ayes: Ald. Molski, Walther, Moore and Hanson Nays: Ald. Stroik
Motion carried.

4. REAPPORTIONMENT OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS - BERNARD LANDERMAN - BONNIE BAY ROAD.

C/T Schlice stated that Director Gardner did talk to Mr. Landerman and he would like to have the assessments split equally over the three lots. Plan Commission approved the lot split earlier today.

Motion made by Ald. Stroik, seconded by Ald. Moore to approve the assessments being split three ways over the three lots for Bernard Landerman on Bonnie Bay Road.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

5. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.

Motion made by Ald. Walther, seconded by Ald. Moore to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $901,241.36.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

Adjournment at 7:29 p.m.

The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the City until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.

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