By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac City Council Monday night approved a 3-percent across-the-board adjustment for all non-union salaries covered by its classification and compensation system.
Individual employee salaries will vary from the 3 percent change in the Consumer Price Index based on year-end performance evaluations, although all adjustments will fall within specified salary ranges, assured City Manager William H. Nelson Jr.
With the raise, the first rung on the 10-grade salary ladder pays Dial-A-Ride drivers from $16,316 to $21,212.
At the top rung, a range of $47,267 to $61,446, are fire chief, finance director, director of public services and police chief.
Public Library employees have been removed in anticipation of them becoming Dowagiac District Library employees pending state approval anticipated Sept. 15.
With Gary Carlile retiring Oct. 1, there will be no Grounds Director per se. His department is being folded into the Department of Public Services under Donald Hallowell.
A resolution adopted on the Sept. 8 agenda, however, keeps Carlile under contract as Municipal Airport manager, for which he will be paid $4,895, plus half the cost of individual health insurance coverage.
If utilized for other services beyond the scope of that contract, Carlile will be paid a flat rate of $15 per hour.
Nelson said this may include assisting with Grounds Department functions, such as mowing or pesticide applications during peak work times. The contract requires 60-day written notice by either party for termination.
Nelson recommended the reclassification of three non-union positions to reflect their enhanced responsibilities.
Grounds foreman moves from Grade 5, a range of $27,542-$35,805, to Grade 6, $30,296-$39,385, the same bracket as a firefighter.
The DPS office manager is reclassified from Grade 4, $25,620-$33,306, to Grade 5 to put it in line with an equivalent position, finance office manager.
Human resources coordinator was upgraded from Grade 6, $30,296-$39,385, to Grade 7, $32,569-$42,339, to reflect additional responsibilities assumed for labor negotiations and insurance issues. "As I surveyed other communities," Nelson commented, "it became clear that we have historically undervalued that position. I think it's important that we be able to retain and attract competent people for that position."
The new salaries will be effective Oct. 1.
Also effective with the new fiscal year Oct. 1 will be changes to the Michigan Employee Retirement System (MERS) benefit level for the Police Department bargaining unit employees in accordance with the current collective bargaining agreement adopted in 2001.
The contract provides for a 1.5-percent wage increase as opposed to 3-percent increases during other contract years to accommodate the improved pension benefits.