COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Minutes - 9/23/2014
Approved
CITY OF MUSKEGO
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES
September 23, 2014
5:40 PM
City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. Present were Ald. Madden (arrived
at 6:42 p.m.), Kubacki, Engelhardt, Di Pronio, Borgman, Hammel, and Wolfe. Also present:
Director of Finance and Administration Mueller, Community Development Director Muenkel
and Deputy Clerk Blenski.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
The Deputy stated that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting law.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were no issues with the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 18, 2014
Alderman Kubacki made a motion to approve the September 18, 2014 minutes.
Alderman Borgman seconded.
Motion Passed 6 in favor.
NEW BUSINESS
Continue Review of 2015 Proposed Operating Budget
Ms. Mueller stated that with the approved water rate increase, the City’s budget will have to be
adjusted to include a 3% increase for public fire protection. She will offset the expenditure with
the revenue from the State Transportation Aids.
Consensus: All in favor.
Severance
The Mayor reviewed the existing policy for Separation of Employment. Several positions will
be eliminated as of January 1, 2015. The affected employees would receive severance pay if
certain conditions are met. One of those is that the employee must remain employed until the
termination date (12/31). The Mayor noted that this could pose a problem for the employee
who may find a new position and want to leave prior to December 31. Currently, the employee
who leaves prior to December 31 would not receive any severance. The Mayor requested that
the Committee review and consider other options.
After considerable discussion and various suggestions, Ald. Kubacki recommended using a
percentage scale if the employee leaves prior to December 31. He suggested the following
severance payout for an employee whose position is eliminated:
Last Day of Employment – 12/31/2014 100% Payout
Last Day of Employment – 11/30/2014 95% Payout
Last Day of Employment – 10/31/2014 90% Payout
Last Day of Employment – 9/30/2014 85% Payout
Consensus: 5 in favor; Ald. Wolfe opposed.
Ald. Wolfe believes the suggested payout should be more conservative; he would like to revisit
the existing policy in the future.
Library
Ald. Di Pronio questioned some increased expenditures in the Library budget for print
materials. Ald. Engelhardt stated that activity at the library has increased according to
information provided at the Library Board meetings he attended. It was suggested that the
Director attend a future meeting after this budget process to help the Committee better
understand the operation of the library and the requested expenditures.
Percentage of Employee Increase
(Ald. Madden arrived at 6:42 p.m.)
The budget currently reflects up to a 4% increase for managerial and specialist staff as part of
the Pay for Performance Plan. This allows for step increases and progression within the merit
pay program. Ald. Hammel and Borgman stated those percentages were too high. The Mayor
stated the average employee will receive approximately 2.7%. The 4% is a maximum and not
commonly awarded. The increase is based on merit and subject to review of the Mayor. She
stated that employees who were non-represented have wage ranges with minimum and
maximum amounts. The merit increase allows an employee to move through the salary range.
It may take employees many years to reach the maximum even with favorable evaluations.
Several Aldermen requested that the maximum percentage of increase should be reviewed
annually. It was determined that the 2015 budget would not be changed at this time and the
issue would be reviewed in the future.
City of Muskego Proposed 2015 Budget
The Committee recommended unanimously to move the budget forward. Ms. Mueller noted
that the budget public hearing notice would be sent to the paper later in the week for
publication on October 2.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Kubacki made a motion to adjourn at 6:59 p.m. Alderman Hammel
seconded.
Motion Passed 7 in favor.
Minutes transcribed by Jill Blenski, Deputy Clerk