12/29/1992 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Council Minutes of 12/29/92 LEGISLATION (continued) Using the Mayors statistical formulas and replacing North Olmsted with Lakewood, the Mayor in Lakewood should be making $121,000 a year. Statistics should be left to the statisticians. 5. Lakewood is the only other city to have an Administrative Assistant. The job description furnished by the Mayor would seem to reduce the Mayor's duties to ceremonial. Mrs. Babas made the following comments: Elected officials are temporary if they do not do their jobs and the voters perceive this and do not re-elect them. A good reason to pay competitive wages is to attract quality people. Quality people will not risk putting careers on hold for a four-year period for a pay that provides absolutely no incentive. Also, we need a balance of competitive wages during recession or hard times in order to get the most for the dollars that are spent and to bring as much money into the city as possible. In a comparison of the Westshore communities, it was found that residents in Bay Village page 22~ per month for their Mayor's services at $45,000; Fairview pays 24~ per month per resident for their Mayor at $51,500 per year; Lakewood pays 9~ per month per resident for their Mayor at $65,000 per year; Rocky River residents pay 21~ per month for their Mayor at $51,250 per year; Westlake pays 19~ per month per resident for their Mayor at $62,000 per year. The average cost per resident is $2.28 a year or 19~ per month. By contrast, North Olmsted with a Mayor's wage of $45,000, pays 11~ per month per resident. The proposed wages for the North Olmsted Mayor in 1997 will cost each resident 17~ per month. This is a bargain for the taxpayers. Mrs. Babas does not agree that the Mayor's duties are ceremonial. The Mayor puts in 60 to 80 hour weeks, and she suggested that Mr. Leonard shadow the Mayor for a period of time to better understand his job. Mayor Boyle commented that Mr. Leonard was not being consistent and following the rules that he had set. Mr. Leonard had asked for comparables; indeed, he had presented comparable figures to Council quite some time ago. The Mayor presented comparables in response to what Mr. Leonard had requested. The Mayor noted that he is paid 18% lower than the average pay to Westshore mayors. However, Council is paid 20~ higher than other council members in the Westshore cities. Mayor Boyle felt that Mr. Leonard was manipulating words and numbers. He said that he had been asked to supply numbers aril logic, and he had done so. He has given Council a way to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. If there is abetter system, he will work up the figures. He will not argue his pay. However, he will not allow his employees to be attacked. The North Olmsted Administrative Assistant handles economic development. Through her efforts, the Moen headquarters, which will bring in 300 jobs to the city, is being built in North Olmsted. Also, because of the tax abatement plan, over a million dollars in improvements to homes have come into the Building Department. The Mayor feels very honored to work with his employees, and he will stand up for them. Mrs. Babas pointed out that, according to the Charter, the Mayor could employ three people in his office. Most mayors employ a receptionist at the front desk and a personal secretary. The third position can be filled by a clerk or admi.ni.strative assistant. Each mayor determines the position according to his/her working style. Mayor Boyle has chosen the position of administrative assistant to take advantage of the abilities and educational background of this individual. 2 .~ ,gin ._.,, ...,