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Committee approves pay increase for Community Wellness and Safety Director over two dissenting votes; aldermen voice concern about executive pay limits
Summary
The Finance and Personnel Committee approved an increase to the salary classification for the Community Wellness and Safety Director after separating the item for individual consideration; the measure passed 3–2 and drew objections from some aldermen who wanted caution on executive pay increases.
The Finance and Personnel Committee voted Wednesday to adjust the salary range for the Community Wellness and Safety Director as part of an ordinance amending 2025 pay rates in the city service. The committee separated the Community Wellness and Safety Director item from a broader pay ordinance and took that portion first.
Aldermen voted 3–2 in favor of the salary adjustment. Alderman Scott Speicher recorded an objection on the record, saying he was uncomfortable supporting the increase without clearer budgetary caps: “We no longer have the mayor’s salary as the cap on costs, and so gotta be very attentive with department and division heads because that seems to be the only cap left,” he said. Committee members who supported the change said the classification and pay range adjustment would allow the city to recruit for a newly authorized position; staff said the recruitment has not yet started and that they sought committee approval to begin recruiting.
The remainder of the pay ordinance, which reflected classification and salary adjustments approved earlier in the meeting, passed without recorded objections. Committee members asked that the Community Wellness and Safety Director item be separated for a recorded consideration; it passed with two recorded no votes and the committee placed the balance of the ordinance on passage.
Staff said the recruitment for the Community Wellness and Safety Director position had not yet begun and that approval was intended to allow the hiring process to start; aldermen asked for further notice when candidates are identified.
