Suffolk council orders city manager to review employee step/compensation plan after debate

Suffolk City Council voted 5–2 on Oct. 1 to direct the city manager to review the city’s employee step and compensation plan and report back with comparative information by Nov. 5, 2025.

Councilmember Wright, who moved for the review, said she wanted a regional comparison focused on step progression to determine whether the plan “adequately supports recruitment, retention, and competitiveness.” Wright told the council she was not necessarily asking for an external study but asked that the city manager “look at what he has and be able by November to just be able to tell me where we are.”

Interim City Manager Kevin Hughes cautioned that a full compensation-and-classification study is extensive and typically takes four to six months to complete, and said staff could provide a preliminary review or guidance within 30 days. He told the council the operating-budget process does include periodic salary reviews and Human Resources often examines regional comparators when departments raise concerns.

Opponents of the motion warned the request could be premature without a conversation between the council member and the city manager about scope. Mayor Michael D. Duman and Vice Mayor Ward voted in opposition; the clerk recorded the motion passing 5–2. The mayor expressed concern that a thorough review of the step plan could be a “huge ask” and may require more time and resources than the Nov. 5 window allows.

The motion does not specify hiring an outside consultant; councilmembers said the initial report could be a staff-provided comparison and that a deeper study could follow if the council requests one during the budget process. Council members who supported the motion said they wanted information available in time to consider it during budget deliberations.