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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/04/15 MASON COUNTY CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON SALARIES FORELECTED OFFICIALS (Salary Commission) Meeting Minutes 423 North 5th Street, Shelton and Zoom Monday, April 15, 2024 Meeting was held hybrid — in-person and via Zoom. Members in attendance: Jim Morrell, Chair; Leeland Wells, Vice-Chair; Mary Jo Cady—Secretary; Jann Goodpaster, Matt Mallery, Devin Ferner, Brent Frahm, Richard Wilson, Roger Lewis, and Braden Sisk, via Zoom. Also in attendance: Mark Neary, County Administrator, Mary Ransier, Human Resources Director and Diane Zoren, Central Services Manager. Chair Jim Morrell called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and roll call was taken. Adoption of April 8, 2024 Minutes Mary Jo/Roger moved and seconded to approve the April 8, 2024 Salary Commission minutes with the correction to add Mary Ransier as attending; add that Mary Jo doesn't think there is enough information to include Walla Walla and Kittitas Counties in comparable counties and on page 2 to change "blowback"and "bow waves"to backlash. Motion carried. Updates from the Chair Salary Setting Action Jim stated the action for this Commission is to set salaries for May 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2026 and have flexibility to set in two steps; next action for Salary Commission is to set salaries prior to 5/1/26 effective Jan 1, 2027. Stagger Member Terms Jim suggested they reconvene at a later date and work on staggering the terms. The goal for tonight is to set salaries for all elected officials. Elected Official Responses Jim provided a summary, using Al, of the responses from the elected officials answering the questions posed by the Salary Commission. The group agreed with the summary and it was noted that the Coroner may serve as the Sheriff and that the Sheriff's comments were that he is ok with his salary. Salary Review Jim reviewed the Salary Considerations which is a running list of items from the Salary Commission. Jim then reviewed the salary comparable information, page 5, which includes the median salary and numbers for potential step increases. Average median is $16,051 increase. There is a minimal impact to the County to implement any increase in steps. Matt brought up if there is a 2 step increase, the 2"' increase percentage needs to be amended. Mary Jo voiced concern with making any increase in steps. She believes the elected officials deserve to have the increase in one step increase. Mason County Salary Commission Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024 Page 2 Davin supports a one step increase. Leeland —after talking to a variety of people, they are concerned with any increase affecting their property taxes. He believes a step increase is more palatable. Roger asked where this pay increase is coming from. Richard —supports a one step increase and is easiest. It sounds like the County has the funding. Braden —two steps may be more fiscally responsible. Jann —could support a one step increase; it's a $120K increase for a year. Matt—the elected officials are well below the median and part of the discussion is how to catch them up to the median. It would be a large one-step increase. Leeland brought up the impact to County employees if a large increase is approved. Mary Jo/Devin moved/seconded to move forward on a one step approach to change the salary effective 511124. Richard— aye; Mary Jo—aye; Jann— nay, Leeland—nay- Brent—nay; Devin -aye; Roger—nay; Matt- nay.; Braden—nay; Jim—nay. Motion failed. Jim then went back to page 5, 6 and 7 for median salaries, not including the Sheriff. Questions to the group were to consider all six elected officials together or not include the Commissioners; go with median or average median salary. If including the County Commissioners it adds about $1,000 to the average median for the group. Jann —supports keeping the five elected officials together; Commissioners do seem to have more responsibility so she could support a higher pay for Commissioners. There are no special license requirements for these elected officials. Brent —favors using the average median for parity. Davin —supportive of average median for the five elected officials. Jann/Roger moved/seconded to adopt salaries on line 124, page 7, average median, give the increase in two steps 50150. Richard—aye; Mary Jo- aye; Jann- aye; Leeland—aye; Brent— aye; Davin—aye; Roger— aye; Matt- aye; Braden— aye; Jim —aye. Motion carried unanimously. Recess— 7 minute break Jim thanked the group for being engaged and for the conversation. Sheriff Salary Jim reviewed the Sheriff salary data which shows the Sheriff's salary is 8% above the median. Mary Jo in favor of freezing the Sheriff salary at the current $160,226. Mason County Salary Commission Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024 Page 3 Discussion of options for setting the Sheriff salary. It is currently 5% above the Undersheriff. The Undersheriff is at Step 9 and would also receive any across-the-board set by the Commissioners. Matt is not in favor of the median salary. The Sheriff salary could be set the same as it currently is— 5% above the Undersheriff. Jim pointed out that could reduce the Sheriff if the Undersheriff position changed staff. Mary Jo —could set the Sheriff 5% above the highest step of the Undersheriff position. Richard supports an increase for Sheriff. Brent —freeze Sheriff salary for now until it's below the average median. Leeland —voiced concern if the Sheriff's salary was greatly reduced. The Commission reviewed the non-represented salary range. Jann —suggested linking the Sheriff to the Superior Court Judge at 70.2% making the salary about $165K. She doesn't have a problem with keeping it at the 5% above the Undersheriff. 5% above Step 10 of the non-represented salary scale puts the salary at $164,231. Five of the nine counties link the Sheriff to the Superior Court Judge salary. Jim voiced concern this changes the method that was used for the other elected officials. Richard believes the Sheriff does a very different job than the other elected officials. Auditor Duenkel via Zoom, stated he believes the Salary Commission is to set salaries not a formula. He suggested asking Tim Whitehead. Based on discussions with staff and the Commissioners past meetings, Jim believes the Salary Commission has the latitude to set the salaries as they see fit, which could include a formula. Matt believes the group doesn't want to decrease the Sheriff salary. Leeland —we already used a formula by using the comparable counties, which he supports. He suggested the group submit a formula answer and a straight dollar amount and review with Tim Whitehead so we can move ahead at next meeting. Jim supports keeping the method for the Sheriff salary the same. Lee/Jann moved and seconded to extend the meeting 20 minutes. Motion passed. The discussion continued on the various options for the Sheriff salary. Mary explained the Commissioners do use the Y-rate method if a position is over market. Mason County Salary Commission Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024 Page 4 Leeland summarized the options are to set the Sheriff salary at 5% above Step 10 of the non- represented salary scale; keep Sheriff salary as it is, 5% above Undersheriff; set at 70% of Superior Court Judge. Richard added another option to add 3% to current salary effective January 1, 2025. Jim again brought up this is different than the other elected officials. Richard noted that they have kept the Sheriff separate the entire process. Jann pointed out that traditionally the Sheriff's salary has been set above the other elected officials. Discussion of how the elected official positions are different. Jim asked the group what they support if there is a set number-no increase 5/1/24, add 3% January 1, 2025 and discussion ensued. Leeland/Mary Jo moved and seconded to extend the meeting to 8:15 p.m. Motion carried. Discussion of whether to give a 3% or 5% increase January 1, 2025. Group consensus is 5% Jim asked what the formula should be for the Sheriff salary. After much discussion the following options were provided: Option 1 —freeze salary for 5/1/24 and at 1/1/25 go to Undersheriff salary step 10 + 5%; Option 2- freeze for now; July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026 go to 70.2% of Superior Court judge. After more discussion and ideas floated, the group voiced their preference. Most supported Option 1. Brent, Roger, Matt, Richard, Mary Jo, Jann, and Jim support option 1. Davin and Leeland support option 2. Braden - freeze and reconvene later. Jim will put these options in a memo to Mark for review with Tim Whitehead and we'll include the information in next week's packet. Jim will send thank you cards to the elected officials. Public Comment— Steve Duenkel stated the resolution establishing the Salary Commission doesn't provide for a formula. According to Tim Whitehead, when the Commission files the salary with the Auditor it is payable 30 days later. Jim noted that the options discussed will lead to a specified salary amount. Jim summarized the referendum process. Next meeting —Jim will have a draft resolution with salary schedule; talking points on method for determining the salaries; may need to reconvene to address the member terms in the by-laws. Mason County Salary Commission Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024 Page 5 Adjourn —the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Diane Zoren MASON COUNTY CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS Jim Morrell, Chair