Wilson's Mills HR director presents salary study; recommends annual COLA and structured 401(k) match

Human Resources Director Jenny Martin presented the town’s completed salary study at the April 27 work session, describing the methodology and next steps. Martin said she contacted 23 municipalities and received 15 responses, then selected seven comparable towns to determine pay-range comparisons and to create new salary grades.

"The study will help us with decision making moving forward," Martin said, explaining she worked with department heads to update job descriptions and to create a certification/licensure/degree list for each position that can affect placement within the pay ranges. She recommended establishing an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to maintain competitiveness between periodic full studies.

Martin told council that five positions already have current salaries at or above the recommended grades and that the study includes provisions to raise employees into appropriate ranges without disadvantaging staff. Councilmember Tim Brown suggested reviewing individual salary placement in closed session; Martin said that discussion would require closed-session review because it involves individual personnel matters.

Council did not vote to adopt salary changes during the work session. Instead, members agreed to hold further budget discussions — including personnel-level review in closed session — at a May 14 follow-up meeting. The HR director said the recommended 5 percent town 401(k) match for contributing employees was included in department budgets as a cost to be considered during final adoption.