CITY OF NORWALK
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
MAY 10, 2001
Click here for minutes of the April 9, 2001 Personnel Committee Meeting
ATTENDANCE: Harold McCready, Chairman; Joseph Mann; Charles Flynn; John Tobin; Richard McQuaid.
STAFF: Sara Oley, Director of Personnel & Labor Relations.
OTHERS: Mary Papadakos, Assistant City Clerk; Steve Papadakos; State Representative Alex Knopp; Diane Lauricella; Kevin Fitzgerald, Town Clerk.
PUBLIC HEARING
DISCUSSION/ACTIONS ON ORDINANCE REVISION RELATIVE TO THE SALARIES OF CERTAIN CITY OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF NORWALK
The Chairman convened the Public Hearing at 8:15 p.m. As there was no one from the public who wished to speak, he closed the Public Hearing at 8:16 p.m.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO FORWARD THE ORDINANCE LIST, AS PROPOSED, TO THE COUNCIL.
The Chairman said he wanted to discuss the 3% increase in the Town Clerk’s position. He researched this and found that, in those towns with elected town clerks, the town clerks did not receive an increase until the next election. In those towns with appointed town clerks, the town clerk received yearly increases. Stamford, however, has increased the Town Clerk’s salary every year for the past three years even though this is an elected position. The Chairman said that Norwalk has tried to increase the town clerk’s salary enough to compensate for the two year period between elections. He said he did not know of any other elected officials who receive increases during their term of office.
Mr. Flynn said he did not disagree. What they voted on last meeting was to right the wrong of not voting an increase before the next election. The Chairman said doing that would open up a problem, such as with the Registrars of Voters.
Mr. Mann said that the elected positions are not the same as appointed employees. He said he was not inclined to make them the same as the other positions. Elected officials know the salary when they run.
** MR. MCCREADY MOVED TO AMEND BY RESCINDING THE ACTION TAKEN AT THE LAST MEETING TO INCREASE THE TOWN CLERK’S SALARY FOR THE YEAR 2002 BY 3%.
The Chairman said he would prefer that Norwalk not be different from other municipalities.
Mr. Mann said they are treating this elected position differently than the other elected positions. This position already has an increase coming this year.
** MOTION PASSED WITH 3 VOTES IN FAVOR (MR. MCCREADY, MR. TOBIN, MR. MANN) AND 2 VOTES IN OPPOSITION (MR. FLYNN, MR. MCQUAID).
Mr. Mann asked when this has to go to the Council. The Chairman said he wants it to go to the next Council meeting.
** MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED, PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – APRIL 9, 2001
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Oley distributed draft amendments to Sec. 1.12 and 2.01 of the City Pension Plan. This is a proposal to give the Corporation Counsel a pension.
The Chairman said that the Corporation Counsel has spoken to him about this but he indicated there would have to be a stipulation so that the City does not pension every corporation counsel. In Bristol, both the Corporation Counsel and the Mayor are given pensions. In Stamford, within the past year the City implemented a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for which the Mayor and the Corporation Counsel are eligible.
Mr. Mann said that the Corporation Counsel’s position is part time. This person has his own practice. The Chairman said working 30 hours per week does not qualify as part time. Ms. Oley said that the Corporation Counsel is supposed to work 21 hours or less per week; she also noted that Stamford’s Corporation Counsel is a part time position.
Mr. Tobin said he objected to the way this was handled. If this was going to be discussed, it should have been on the agenda, with information included in the members’ packets.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO TABLE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
The Chairman said they should discuss this further. Mr. Tobin said they should find out how many hours the Corporation Counsel has worked over the years.
The Chairman said there has to be some sort of term in office before a person can be qualified to receive a pension.
Mr. Tobin said he knows that the Corporation Counsel’s position has changed over the years.
** MR. MCQUAID RESTATED HIS MOTION TO TABLE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Flynn pointed out that Mr. McQuaid, at the last meeting, had asked that the issue of the Fire Chief not having a contract be on this agenda, and it was not. Ms. Oley will follow up.
CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
The Chairman had no additional comments.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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