Committee advances city-clerk pay increase to council; other municipal pay-schedule changes tabled for further review

The Ordinance Committee discussed proposed updates to municipal compensation schedules (Schedule A — appointed/ordinance positions; Schedule B/C — departmental and elected positions) and took mixed action: the committee advanced a proposed pay increase for the city clerk to full council for consideration while tabling broader schedule changes and position updates for further review.

Personnel Director Kelly (presented materials) noted Schedule A ranges were last updated using a 2014 salary study and adjusted in 2021. She supplied comparisons with neighboring cities (Chicopee, West Springfield, Westfield) and said the current ranges are out of date for recruiting and retaining qualified staff. The personnel presentation recommended raising ranges for many positions; several new positions tied to municipal modernization were noted with an asterisk.

Councilors debated process and timing. Some councilors said changes should take effect only after elected terms begin (e.g., clerk changes would be effective after the next certification or in January); others wanted more time to evaluate side-by-side comparisons and verify which new positions are yet to be created. Several councilors also recommended separating the city-clerk pay question from the larger package.

Procedural actions in committee were: (a) the committee initially voted to forward Schedules 6–8 (the package covering Schedules A, B, and C and the clerk recommendation) to full City Council with the committee’s recommendation; (b) after further discussion and a motion to reconsider, the committee voted to table items affecting Schedule A and B (the broader personnel schedule updates) in the ordinance committee to allow a line-by-line review and side-by-side comparison; (c) the proposal concerning the city clerk’s salary (Schedule C / elected officials) was left to proceed to full council for consideration and potential action there.

Committee members asked city staff to provide a side-by-side comparison of existing vs. proposed ranges and to coordinate with the law and personnel departments before returning broader schedule changes for committee action.

Next steps: Personnel will provide the requested side-by-side and comparative data; the law department and personnel will assist with drafting any ordinance language; schedule A and B updates will return to committee after that work; the clerk’s proposed increase will appear on the full council agenda for a vote.