HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19781102 ~pecial Meeting Aspen City Council November 2, 1978
Mayor Standley called the meeting to order at 5:10 PM with Councilmembers Parry, Isaac~
and Van Ness present. Also present were City Manager Mick Mahoney, City Attorney Ronald
Stock and Assistant Finance Director John Eldert.
Councilmember Isaac stated that he has met with Councilmember Van Nes_s~ Finance Director
Lois Butterbaugh and City Attorney Stock to decide on an equitable plan for a review pro-
Employee cess and performance evaluation. He did not want to see a few individuals hold down the
perforraance rest.
evaluations
~ Eldert noted that they have drawn up an evaluation form to be filled out by the Department
Head and submitted to Mahoney and a board. They will look for inequities in the pay scale,
job descriptions and classifications. They will also look at longevity and expertise in
other areas to justify the classifications. They will evaluate the structure the employees
are in and the individual within the structure. They will also evaluate the department
heads and their performance. They will then meet with the employee, discuss the findings
and adjust where necessary. They will review again in July.
Stock felt there are two types of problem employees; the sandbagger and the employee paid
more than what their job requires. He felt that this review will identify these problems.
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_ Special Meeting Aspen City Council November 2, 1978
Mahoney supported the review across department lines. He felt the issue now is cost of
living. He noted that this all coincides with the national program and felt they have a
reasonable solution. He felt they should give a 7% raise to everyone on January and begin
the review process. Councilmember Parry asked if this would he effective On January 1 or
on the employee's anniversary. ~Mahoney said January i and it Would cost $149,000. He
noted that the Charter provides for a contingency fund of $25,000 that could be used for
an increase in technical grade. He stated he met with the department heads and employees
and they support the 7% increase.
Stock noted that they are required to amend the code provision to allow all employees to
get the raise on January 1.
Mayor Standley stated that he was upset that this meeting was called at a time when two
Councilmembers were unable to attend. He prepared a memo stating his views of the problem.'.
Councilmember Wishart entered the meeting. ~
Mayor Standley did not feel they could compare their cost of living increase to cost of
housing increases. Their responsibility is first to the taxpayers, not the employee. He
s~upported the evaluations across department line and job classification scales. He felt
they should look at whether a job was done but, more importantly, whether it was done cost
effectively. He felt they should budget 7%; 2% for cost of living and 4-5% to be given by
the department head for merit at the first of the year. They then begin the review process
and determine what they have and need to do. He suggested initiating a pool for merit
raises. He felt they should establish a cost of living increase for those jobs that cannot
show merit. He noted the plans for housing near the water plant and added that they could
complete it next su/mner. He felt they could coordinate their ideas and come up with a via-
ble solution. ~
Councilmember Parry felt they should determine their base for the cost of living increase
this year. Councilmember Wishart noted that he has never received a cost of living increase
in the 15 years he has lived here. Eldert noted that merit increases include a component
of cost of living. Councilmember Isaac felt they were dealing with different labels on the
same numbers. Eldert noted that the 7% increase will cost $149,000; the merit raises
should be around $25,000. Mayor Standley felt they should go with a 3% cost of living in-
crease on January 1, and budget a surplus of 5-8% for merit increases when the review pro-
cess is complete. He suggested bringing in an expert like Warren Bennis to study City Hall
and come up with viable solutions. Councilmember Van Ness noted that there is a certain
point in wage increase where it will cost more to train for the positions that they lose
their personnel than to budget the increase. Mayor Standley did not agree. Councilmember
Van Ness reminded the Council that they started out a possible 10% increase and now they
are looking at maybe 3%; this does not establish much confidence in the employees.
Stock felt they were asking for a detailed program review. The average employee is being
penalized because the administration and the department heads have not done this review.
Mayor Standley voiced his objection to "cost of living" except for those jobs that cannot
show merit. Councilmember Isaac felt they should separate these employees. Mayor Standley
suggested that those employees that should have just a cost of living increase should get
their additional raise retroactive when the review process is finished. Eldert noted that
eyed with the review process and merit raises, in future years they will need a basis,
whether it is cost of living or whatever, to give employees raises so they are paid what
they are worth compared with the inflation. Mahoney said there was not enough time to do
the evaluation in time. If they can agree on a system, they will begin to implement it.
Councilmember Van Ness was in favor of budgeting 5% across the board on January 1, beginni~
the evaluations and giving the merit raises when the review is complete. Mayor Standley
said they must go int° it with the idea that they will eliminate cost of living increases
in future years.
Wishart moved to approve a 5% cost of living increase effective January 1, take the un-
appropriated surplus, the difference from $175,000, into the general fund in an appropriated
category, the administration come up with the performance review directed towards elimina-
ting cost of living increases and basing salary increases on merit review and establish a
Council administration comraittee to develop the program, Councilmember Parry seconded.
All in favor, motion approved.
Councilmember Isaac moved to adjourn the meeting, Councilmember Wishart seconded. All in
favor, motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Sheryl ~immen, DepUty City Clerk
ii~ Reg~ .... ~ l~. 1978
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