Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clerk resigns administrative duties; board votes to end $12,000 stipend amid questions over administrator's raise
Summary
Public commenter Deborah Hill criticized County Administrator David Schaeffer’s performance and a recent 10% raise; the board voted 5-2 to end a $12,000-a-year administrative stipend for the county clerk after Hill resigned administrative duties effective May 21, 2025.
Deborah Hill, the county clerk, read a prepared statement in public comment raising concerns about County Administrator David Schaeffer’s transition into the role, alleged favoritism toward the Kaliseum and certain employees, and questioned the propriety and process of a recent salary increase for Schaeffer. Hill said the board did not perform a comparable wage review and asserted "The raise of 10% was felt to be excessive," and she announced she was resigning from any continued administrative duties while retaining her statutory clerk responsibilities.
After discussion during new business about which duties remained deferred and whether the stipend should continue, Commissioner David Persons moved to "stop the stipend being paid for administrative duties as of this date 5/21/2025," supported by Commissioner Jeff Sieting. The motion passed 5 yeas, 2 nays (Matley and Comai). The board recorded the roll call vote and adopted the motion; the minutes show debate centered on when the administrative transition was expected to be complete and whether the stipend represented compensation for continuing duties.
The board’s record shows no formal disciplinary action against the administrator at the meeting; County Administrator David Schaeffer told the board he would continue to work with state associations on District Court funding matters and that he had obtained an attorney opinion on closed-session discussions. The item will continue to appear on future agendas as the board clarifies administrative responsibilities and any pay adjustments.
