Pontiac commission begins process to set full-time salary for council president; schedules follow-up

Pontiac — The Pontiac Officers' Compensation Commission opened a review of pay for the newly full-time council president on Jan. 16, hearing a detailed presentation from Council President Mike McGinnis and scheduling a follow-up meeting for Jan. 23 to set the salary.

The discussion centered on what the city charter and local practice require of the council president and how a full-time designation should translate into compensation. Commissioners did not set a pay rate at the meeting and directed staff and commissioners to gather comparables and other information before the next session.

McGinnis, who was re-elected council president last week for a one-year term, outlined duties he said are specified in the charter and the council's rules, and many additional practical responsibilities he has performed. "The city charter says that the council president presides at all city council meetings," McGinnis said, listing responsibilities that he and previous presidents have handled, including setting agendas with the clerk, overseeing council staff and budget items for council operations, and interfacing regularly with the mayor's office to coordinate agendas.

McGinnis described additional, informal tasks he said have become part of the role in…