Personnel committee backs reclassification of Lawrence ADA coordinator to higher grade

Richard Rodriguez, Lawrence’s ADA coordinator, told the Personnel Committee he is seeking a reclassification of his position to reflect responsibilities, specialized expertise and the city’s legal obligations under ADA-related court orders. “I’m not here to advocate for a high salary, but I’m here to advocate for a comparable salary to other local municipality ADA coordinator salary,” Rodriguez said during the committee hearing. Rodriguez and supporters described a long-running court decree and multiple federal- and state-level enforcement actions that, they said, prompted the city to maintain a full-time ADA coordinator. The committee heard that the current grade salary range is listed in personnel materials as $45,500 to $72,800 and that moving the position to Grade D would yield a range with a higher maximum (personnel materials cited a Grade D maximum near $104,000). Personnel Director Carol Garcia told the committee HR had reviewed the position description and confirmed duties match daily practice. Octavian Spanner, senior adviser to the mayor, said Rodriguez brings lived experience to the role and that reclassification would help attract and retain qualified candidates. The chair of the Commission on Disability read a letter of unanimous commission support for the reclassification and cited statewide salary comparisons. Committee members asked how the reclassification would be funded; Garcia and Rodriguez said the position is budgeted in the Department of Public Works (DPW) budget and that the funds would come from that existing budget line if approved. Members also clarified the position’s status: Rodriguez is a noncontract (non-union) employee serving as ADA coordinator. The committee voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the full council. The committee did not finalize salaries, contracts or an effective date; those details will be determined in the administration’s budget and by full-council action.