Mayor Brunner Calls for Special City Commission Meeting on Pay Raise Issue
City Manager Defends Need for Increased Compensation, Citing Workload Hikes
February 19, 2010
By: Dave Rogers
Bay City Mayor -- Charles Brunner
A television station's investigative report about selective pay raises for certain city employees has resulted in outrage by the public and action by the mayor.
Mayor Charles Brunner, longtime commissioner and candidate for the Democratic nomination for state representative, has called for a public airing of the issue.
Meanwhile, City Manager Robert V. Belleman at first ducked questions and then reversed himself and opened up to TV-5, explaining that the reason for the raises was that workloads have increased for some employees, citing need for added compensation.
On its website WNEM-TV, Channel 5, and on its Facebook page, has posted video from a series of "investigative reports" it calls "Asking the Tough Question." These reports headlined: "City Approves Raises Amid Ongoing Budget Crunch" include short clips from its on-air stories:
Video: City Manager Dodges Pay Raise Questions
Video: Raw: City Manager Flees TV5's Tough Questions
Video: TV5 Investigates: Raises Start To Cloud City Budget Woes
According to the news reports, in the past two years the city has approved "reclassification" requests from 26 of 346 employees, reportedly resulting in raises ranging from 41 cents an hour to $7,500 a year. Four applications are still pending, according to the report.
City Manager Robert V. Belleman told the commission recently that the reclassifications have resulted in $55,000 additional costs since 2008.
City commissioner Larry Elliott, whose 9th Ward has a closed fire station (No. 5) has been leading the charge. Mr. Elliott told the TV station he hopes to have at least some of the raises reversed, calling it a "public safety issue" since a vaccant firefighter position remains unfilled.
The mayor has responded to a public firestorm with a statement:
"On Behalf of the residents of Bay City, I have asked Commission President Christopher Shannon and Council members to hold a special public meeting to discuss issues surrounding Selective Employee Raises," Brunner wrote in a news release.
"In recent days my phone has been ringing off the hook and my email box overflowing with concerned citizens demanding answers to questions and concerns surrounding the practice of Selective Employee Raises.
"As Mayor, I agree with my fellow citizens and find this practice questionable at a time when the City is requesting across the board 11 percent pay reductions, laying off firefighters and closing a fire station.
"The residents have expressed their concern and outrage over this matter and are demanding answers regarding the use and authorization of this practice. I feel that government should be transparent and the citizens should have an option for public comment to express their ideas and concerns in this community.
"The Citizens of Bay City have demanded answers and as their Mayor it is my responsibility to seek these answers."
The city is meeting with the firefighters' union on Friday, Feb. 19, to discuss the issue. No date has been set for the special commission meeting requested by the mayor.
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