Today we will look at the city council employees.
Of the 8 employees in the office (besides the 8 city councilors), there are 3 internal auditors, a city clerk, and two assistant clerks, an operations manager and a budget manager. Not including the 8 city councilors (They make around $18K each), the salaries equal over $500K.
While I find nothing controversial about the salaries to the assistant city clerks and internal auditors, I do have some concern with the City Clerk ($83K) The Operations Manager ($97K) and the Budget Analyst ($80K). Before Debra Owen was terminated she wore all three hats and was making around $70K. Not only did it take three people to replace Debra, apparently it also took an extra $190K a year in salaries. When Owen left I remember a couple of city councilors (who were adamant about firing her) telling the public that they would be ‘saving’ the tax payers money. Not sure what calculations they were using?
My suggestion would be to combine the Operations and Budget position, and hire a city clerk with a law degree and license to practice so they can confidently give the council a 2nd opinion on matters. I know that Debra had a law degree and used to help advise the council on many legal issues.
Here is the full doc: 2017-Wages