It appears the city intends to have a serious conversation about city employee salaries. We haven’t yet established who called for it, the Mayor or the City Manager. We haven’t yet established who is in charge at city hall but someone in the high place decided a consultant must be hired to assist in determining the fair salary for each city employee. Any of us on the outside might arbitrarily say salaries are already too high, as a city recent department chart seemed to indicate, even without showing additional benefits. There has been some chatter in town about the large salary gap between Fire Chief and the next lower position. Obviously no consultant recommended that. And there must be other instances of unfairness. So if there is to be a meeting of all employees for a salary discussion it must surely mean there are going to be adjustments, and then 10% cuts at all levels to bring the city into the reality of the nations economic condition.
Or if the city is out of the blue going to spend millions for finer quarters they might consider cuts in salaries and benefits as a “use tax” charged against employees. We doubt there would be many employees resign because of that…not much hiring going on anywhere. Of course there is always the oft-used Brown theory, “If we are short of means raise the means." Most economists reject raising taxes in a depression but who has said there are economists at city hall? Maybe it is time for a Suffolk Tea Party if there are any conservatives and/or Republicans in this politically overly quiet city. It’s time for some “noise,” even if it is confined to rearranging the chairs on the Council.
11 comments:
Doreen Barrows has founded the Suffolk TEA Party. My neighbor joined the club.
So to be better known tell "IS" you exist and get some good coverage. Pock is a Tea Party enthusiast and would help all he can by giving you coverage and print your progress reports.Just send info to www.insidesuffolk as a comment. He will pick it up and print it. Ask Mike Duman about that.
"IS" has over 54,000 computers that have logged on and I would like to know more about a Suffolk Tea Party. Neither local papers have ever mentioned it. What does it take to join, and where? Tell "IS."
She owns the Golden Corral in Chesapeake Square - I think they meet or have met there before. I'll have to double check with my neighbor.
Who does Linda Johnson endorse among the candidates for city council speaks volumes. We already know Parr, Brown and Gardy are established players in her book. Although none of them should feel relaxed in today's highly charged political environment. So that leaves the only race with no incumbent, the Chuckatuck Borough race between Martin ad Duman. Which one of them do you think will rattle the Mayor's hold on power? It's been rumored that a former Mayor from that borough supports Martin and that just gives the Queen a bad case of the hives.
You probably have done inestimable damage to the Eure-Martin team by suggestion that Martin has a former mayor's support, That endorsement could de disastrous and guarantee a Martin defeat.
Simple question; who does Mayor Johnson support for council from Chuckatuck Martin or Duman? The next question; which of the two candidates will go along with the others on council to get along? Which do you think is most capable to stand their ground on taxes, growth, schools and spending. The last; which has Joe Barlow's endorsement? Answer these truthfully and you will have your man or woman.
Eure is Mayor Johnson's EDA appointee and Duman is Barlow's. Did something change the polarity of Suffolk politics or to borrow a Post from this blog; Is it stupid to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result?
The city hiring a consultant to determine if city salaries are fair and reasonable will get the city officials off the hook and I don't blame them. Salaries for Managers/Directors and etc. have gotten out of hand not only in Suffolk but virtually all cities and it is hard to correct. The employees working for the city making in the low 30's to high 40's seem to be paid a reasonable amount and some paid higher that are also reasonable. But some of the manager jobs paid in excess of $100,000 seems unreasonable, I do not fault the managers receiving the money but I do fault the city having that kind of pay scale.
Let's start with cutting back on contracted service providers that double dip making money consulting and by commissions off the city's finances. Here's a no brainer how about Davenport & Co..
I would like to know more about the 68 (I believe) city employees who received raises this year. Can any of the sitting City Council members explain why those were appropriate?
And why those reasons don't extend to every other employee of the City?
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