12/02/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/2/2008 I~ term. The ordinances were originally introduced by five members of Council and included a 10% pay reduction for the office of Mayor and Finance Director with afour- year pay freeze. The Law Director position was reduced significantly for different reasons as it was suggested that it be returned to a part-time position. The legislation for the salaries of the President and the Wazd members was originally introduced with afour- yeazpay freeze. • Ordinance 2008-144, an ordinance establishing and fixing the compensation for the Director of Law for the City of North Olmsted for the term of office commencing January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2013. As introduced, the legislation establishes the compensation of the Director of Law at $54,990. It's important to note this is a reduction from the 2009 salary of $94,810. It's a significant cost reduction in the o#I•ice of Law Director. Over the course of four years, the total savings is $159,280. The reduction is designed to reflect a return to the part time nature of the position. The current official, Mr. Jim Dubelko who has held the position for seven yeazs, expressed support for the concept. The discussion turned towazd the number of hours required for the job, and a dialogue was had comparing apart-time law director with other communities. As adjusted, the pay is commensurate with other communities such as Westlake and Rocky River, and the committee viewed that as favorable. • Ordinances 2008-142 and 2008-143. Ordinance 2008-142 is an ordinance establishing and fixing the compensation for the President of Council for the City of North Olmsted for the term of office commencing January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2013. Ordinance 2008-143 is an ordinance establishing and fixing the compensation for Ward Council Members for the City of North Olmsted for the term of office commencing January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2013. As introduced, these ordinances set the compensation of the Ward Council Members and President of Council annually at $12,742, which was a zero increase for four years. Some in the audience of the committee meting, and some in the administration, felt that Council should take a pay decrease if it was imposing the same upon the Directors of Law and Finance and Mayor. The Mayor suggested to Council, in his belief in comparison to other communities, the City Council was overpaid and felt that in comparison analysis to other communities that his position, the office of Mayor, was underpaid. He felt that no pay cuts should be implemented and that a four year wage freeze was more appropriate for the positions for both the Finance Director and the office of Mayor. Upon further discussion, the majority of Council spoke in favor of not maintaining a compensation level, but in fact reducing it for the President of Council and the four Ward seats by 5% with a zero percent increase over the four years. Councilman Jones presented timely and appropriate articles showing leaders in other fields recognizing the hazdship in the economy and that this was an opportunity to present an example of what she felt was leadership with salary adjustments. She supported the 5% pay decrease for the position of Ward Council and President of Council. Mr. Barker felt Council was showing leadership by leading the way on salazy reductions, particularly in these difficult economic times. Mr. Mahoney further expressed support. The salary with a reduction of 5