Over the past few weeks, Talk of the Sound has been inundated with copies of “Resolution 33” introduced at the City Council Meeting on February 8, 2011. The resolution “reallocated” the positions of Parks & Recreation Commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioner from “Non-Represented Employee” Pay Grade VII with a range of $106,336 to $154,538 to Pay Grade VII with a range of $117,003 to $169,990. These positions are held by Parks & Recreation Commissioner Bill Zimmerman and Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Murphy. Both Murphy and Zimmerman were previously at the top end of the pay scale and thus “maxed out” so the practical effect of this resolution is they are now eligible for pay increases up to $15,000.
The change was initiated after Zimmerman and Murphy became eligible to take a buy-out retirement package last summer. City Manager Chuck Strome wanted to retain them and offered each a deal, known to City Council, which will eventually result in their getting additional compensation and allow them to retire with an increased pension. Resolution 33 did not give the two Commissioners a raise, instead it set the stage for the City Manager to raise the salaries down the road. This deal was presented to Council and approved.
Now for all those who are concerned about this deal, we want you know that we have received all of the copies you have emailed, faxed, scanned, mailed and dropped on our door step and are on it. We are fully aware of the situation and have discussed it with City Manager Chuck Strome, twice. A large part of the concern stemmed from the idea that the Resolution was a $15,000 pay increase or that Strome was now free to give increases up to $15,000 with a flick of his pen. Strome says this is not correct. There is no pay increase now and any increase in the future would still require Council approval. Given this, the concerns are premature. Until such time as an actual increase is approved, Talk of the Sound will simply monitor the situation.
There is some speculation out there that other compensation packages will be impacted by raises given to Zimmerman and Murphy. By New York State law, the Police Commissioner’s salary has to be a certain percentage above the highest paid Captain. Murphy is Deputy Commissioner so this law would not apply to him. The City Manager salary is not related in any way to other salary and can only be increased with the approval of the City Council.
Another issue that has been raised is the idea that Zimmerman and Murphy are getting $15,000 raises when “no one” else is getting a raise. I asked Strome about this and he explained that everyone who is under contract got their contractual raise. He said there were 7 unions (PBA, Superior Officers, Firefighters, Deputy Chiefs, CSEA Office Workers, DPW Workers and School Crossing Guards). The CSEA and DPW (Local 663) have contracts and got raises. The remaining unions will get whatever raises are negotiated once their contracts are approved. So, according to Strome, it is not the case that “no one” has gotten a pay increase because represented workers either have gotten one or will. He said the opposite was really true, that of the 600 or so City workers there are about 40 unrepresented workers and they are the ones not getting raises. These 40 include Zimmerman and Murphy as well as many lower level employees like secretaries.
If any readers have additional information or want to challenge some of the information presented here just add a comment and we will check it out. Meanwhile, we would expect that our City Council members will make sure that no Commissioners are getting raises without a clear public statement to that effect so there are no midnight pay raises. Strome has provided assurances that not only is that not the case but he does not have the authority to do that without Council approval.
2011 Grade VIII Raises for Zimmerman and Murphy
Resolution 33 is a shell game
The 40 unrepresented employees are at the higher end of the totem-pole making upscale salaries and in the case of Zimmerman & Murphy upwards of $125,000. While Strome hides behind the fact that Zimmerman & Murphy have not received raises, what is the purpose of a new, higher pay grade if a pay-raise wasn’t intended? This is nothing more than a shell game. The fact that no one has actually received a raise is blue smoke and mirrors to what will happen in the near future.