Minutes 05/07/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1998 Council next heard a presentation not scheduled on the agenda concerning the City Pay Plan and the proposed salary improvements for employees. Mrs. Lisa Ernest, Assistant Director of Finance and Human Resources Manager made this presentation. The information provided consisted of several compensation increase scenarios of different percentages, with different dates of implementation, and the estimated payroll costs for each. Projections on impact on the overall Pay and Compensation Plan were also shown for comparison. Council Member Teague asked what percentage of increase would be required to assure that all employees would get at least a 2% increase, taking formulas adjustments into consideration, and Mrs. Ernest replied that a 3% increase plus about $2,000 would accomplish this. There was no further discussion of compensation issues at this time. Next on the agenda was a discussion of the budget request of the Commonwealth's Attomey. Ms. Joan Ziglar, Commonwealth's Attorney was present to provide information. Ms. Ziglar stated that her highest budget priority was an additional clerical position, and provided workload comparison figures from other jurisdictions in justification of the request. She noted that although the State Compensation Board had acknowledged the need for this position it had not been funded by the General Assembly. Ms. Ziglar also stated that other jurisdictions which have such positions funded usually have a higher Capital Murder rate, thus demonstrating a higher "stress rating" for those jurisdictions. Mr. Reynolds noted that funds for this position, on a full-time temporary basis, were provided in the proposed budget, along with the funds necessary to create a full-time attorney position from an existing half-time position. Council Member Teague asked whether the level of local support for the Commonwealth Attorney's office had any effect on the stress rating of that office, and was told that it did not. Other items of the Commonwealth Attorney's budget that were discussed included non-capital equipment, travel and training expenses, an additional attorney position, and a pay supplement for the Victim-Witness Coordinator. Council expressed concern and disappointment over the fact that an increasingly higher level of local financial support for this office was being required as a restfit of the State's unwillingness to provide funds for necessary positions and activities. Ms. Ziglar also