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Council debates raise for Building & Engineering director; department asks for engineer staffing, online payments and plan‑review upgrades
Summary
Council members and building‑department staff discussed a proposed raise for Director Rick to bring his pay closer to peer departments, requested a separate engineering budget line, flagged overtime and staffing shortfalls, and pushed for online permit payment integration and plan‑review/scanning investments.
Council members and building and engineering staff spent more than an hour on personnel, overtime and technology during the Dearborn Heights budget study session, focusing on a proposed pay increase for the department director and on modernizing permit and plan‑review processes.
Council members discussed increasing Director Rick’s salary from the mid‑80,000s range to $100,000 to match other department directors. Multiple council members argued Rick is “underpaid and overworked” and noted the department has increased revenue since he took the post. At one point a council member said, “If anything, we’re saving money because of Rick.” Staff and…
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