If city pay is a concern, start with officers and firefighters
The $13,400 pay raise proposed for City Administrator Herb Llewellyn has been a focus of recent discussion.
The raise would give Llewellyn a salary of $76,000, not bad for an employee who has yet to complete his first year of service with the city.
Aldermen on the Finance Committee say retaining an experienced city administrator is a top priority. Thus, they feel a 21 percent raise is appropriate.
The Standard agrees a qualified city administrator is indeed a must. If McMinnville is to continue to move forward and maintain the momentum started by Main Street revitalization and the construction of a new pool, the city needs a competent and capable leader.
That said, employee salaries should be kept in perspective and years of service should also be considered. It’s doubtful few – if any – city employees have been showered with a 21 percent pay raise after 10 months on the job.
To ponder awarding a $13,400 raise to someone who probably still has to ask for occasional directions around town can’t be warmly embraced by longtime workers who have logged over 20 years of service.
Yes, the city needs to pay its employees a competitive salary and retain quality workers if at all possible. But if improving salaries is the emphasis, why not start with firefighters who initially make $21,096. If any salary needs an adjustment, it’s that of a city police officer who begins earning $23,061.
If city officials are concerned about fair pay, the salaries of police officers and fire fighters need attention much more than a city administrator earning $62,600.