Council committee presses for transparency in Baker Tilly job-classification review, demands redlines and pay-scale disclosure

Members of the Office of General Counsel committee pressed general counsel and staff for detailed deliverables from Baker Tilly’s job-classification review, saying they need redline documents and clear integration of compensation information before they can responsibly vote on recommended changes.

Attorney Smith said the outside consultant is still meeting with departments and that the process remained on track to deliver materials by the end of August. Councilwoman Salafia told the committee she expected to receive three versions for each position — Baker Tilly’s proposed job description, the city’s proposed edits (Justin’s), and a final version after union review — so members could “see the evolution” of changes. “We would get a clean Baker Tilly, then Justin’s, and then a final one after it’s been reviewed in by the unions,” she said.

Several council members asked whether Baker Tilly or staff had assigned any job grades or salary scales; Attorney Smith said not to his knowledge, and members cautioned that introducing compensation too early could derail the review process. Council members also expressed concern that receiving 198 job packages at once would be unworkable and discussed breaking the review into multiple sessions. The Chair and general counsel said they would circle back with Director Richardson and Justin to clarify the delivery format and schedule.