Minutes - Council - 10/20/1981 - Special 1982 Salary Meeting

Home

Councilmember Van Wagner stated to be fair, everyone should be at the mid- point and not everyone would be requiring a large raise to reach the mid- point. Mayor Gamec and Councilmembers Reimann and Sorteberg stated that they have received comments from the policemen to the effect they feel their salaries should be equalized to those of other police officers in cities comparable in size to that of Ramsey. Councilmember Cox said it would be nice to use the Stanton Report, but most cities with. a population of 10,OOO have a totally different picture with re- gards to industrial and commercial versus residential. You might as well let the employees set their own income. This community is extremely poor in some respects, with regards to State Aid and tax base. Anyone who under- stands all the problems of this community can go by the Stanton Report but we are out of line adopting anything beyond one year. Councilmember Reimann asked Councilmember Cox if he was hesitant to commit the next Council. Councilmember Cox replied that he was. Mayor Gamec said we have made more important decisions than this that will lie in the lap of the next Council. Councilmember Reimann asked if these salaries are adopted, can the next Council put a freeze on them. City Administrator Schnelle stated they cannot. Building Official Berg stated the Council is not locked into the 8% but you are locked into the 21 months. City Administrator Schnelle stated to the Council that when they say they adopt these pay raises is that they already have the money budgeted and in the bank and will be releasing it over a period of 21 months, earning in- terest on it in the meantime. Councilmember Sorteberg stated he is in favor of the 21 month program. Also, the quality of employees in the Ramsey City office is something to be proud of. Some of the businessmen in Ramsey are having a rough time, but they also have a high standard of living. Councilmember Cox said high points and low points in the economy should be reflected in these salaries also. We should cut down on spending. The economy is so bad, it is affecting even the State budget. We can ignore it or recognize it and base our decisions on Ramsey's State Aid or Bemidji's State Aid. Councilmember Reimann said the people working for Ramsey like their job and atmosphere and that is the reason for the quality and maybe they are satisfied with the pay. Mayor Gamec stated he had left a position he had liked for more money. SpC/October 20, 1981 Page 4