City Raises Spark Debate at Council Meeting
Coffee Break Accountability Suggested
By Ryan Schlehuber

Discussion turned into debate at a meeting of St. Ignace City Council Monday, February 4, over workers' compensation and work accountability with Council's approval of a two-year contract with department heads, which calls for a 3% raise this year and next year.

Council voted 6-1 to approve the two-year contract for 11 department heads, from the city manager to the assistant fire chief. As a bonus, Council also allowed City Clerk Renee Vonderwerth and City Treasurer Gene Elmer to sell up to 15 vacation days, the same as other department heads are allowed to do. They have been only allowed to sell up to 12.

Erica Mattson, the city's Recreation Department program coordinator and facilities manager, was promoted to recreation director, which was previously held by City Manager Eric Dodson. The promotion does not include a raise in salary, other than the 3% raises she is receiving along with other department heads.

Councilman Willie LaLonde voted against giving the department heads raises, stating that he believes that vacation benefits for department heads, such as the ability to sell unused vacation days back to the city in exchange for cash, should be more scrutinized by Council.

"I have no problem with their salaries," he said. "It's the perks they receive that I have a problem with."

Fred Strich, a member of the city's Planning Commission, asked for further explanations about how City Building Inspector Paul Sved, a non-union, part-time employee, receives compensation and vacation benefits.

As reported in The St. Ignace News last week, Mr. Sved is allowed to sell up to 15 vacation days a year. Under his current pay rate, $17.20 per hour (before the 3% raise, which is effective immediately), that amounts to $2,064, in addition to the $24,148.80 the city was paying, an 8.5% increase in pay.

Mr. Strich also raised the issue of evaluating compensation and work time by the city manager, stating that he, as well as many other taxpayers, consistently see many department heads on coffee breaks around town.

"My complaint, really, is about perception," said Mr. Strich. "Maybe it's not a good practice to be having coffee every day at a restaurant together. It's an accountability thing to use common sense."

At least one member of Council, Susan Tamlyn-Massaway, believes Mr. Strich has a point, stating that while department heads may be taking their allowed 15-minute morning break, they should be more conscientious as to how it looks when they are gathered out in public during regular work hours.

Mark Mullins of St. Ignace agreed, and suggested that perhaps city workers should use a time clock to keep track of breaks.

"I'm not saying (the department heads) aren't doing a good job," said Mr. Mullins, "I'm just saying, Wouldn't you want to legitimize compensation time, to have something to fall back on?"

Mr. Dodson and a few other council members agreed that the logistics of punching in and out on a time clock are difficult, owing to many facilities the city has and many workers who drive to several work sites within the city and in neighboring townships.

Department heads are responsible for keeping track of their own work compensation hours, based on two-week periods, however, it is ultimately approved by the city manager.

Department heads set their own lunch breaks for themselves and their staff, usually between 30 and 60 minutes, said Les Therrian, director of the Department of Public Works.

Each department head is allowed a 15 minute break each morning.

Deb Evashevski, the director for the city's Downtown Development Authority, defended her co-workers, stating that department heads work many hours that they will never recoup.

"Please ask them how much compensation time they lose!" she said to the audience.

Mary Nichols of St. Ignace also wanted to speak on the topic, but was denied by Mayor Paul Grondin, who decided the issue had been discussed long enough. She was then warned that she would be removed from the council chambers if she interrupted Council's discussion again.

Ms. Nichols was allowed to speak during public comment, which is held at the end of Council's agenda, after all issues had been voted on, however, she did not comment on the pay issue at that time.

Wilcox Engineers, overseeing upgrade plans of the city's' wastewater system, will submit designs to the state by Monday, February 18.

The city is planning a $5 million renovation its 20-year old system, which is required under a consent order issued by the state's Department of Environmental Quality. The project must be completed by November 2009.

Council began discussing needed amendments to its city charter, which was adopted in 1970. Following a brief review of several issues raised by Councilman Don Gustafson, however, the seven-member board agreed to give all suggestions to Mr. Dodson and review them together later. Council had planned to discuss the charter during the first meeting of each month. Chapters one through five were to have been reviewed Monday. Council set no date to complete the review of those chapters, however, after the suggestions were given to Mr. Dodson.

City attorney Prentiss Brown, Jr. assured Council that holding regular council meetings at Little Bear East February 18 and at LaSalle High School March 17 is allowed as long as the public is notified in advance. He also said Council is able to meet outside the city limits, in response to Ms. Nichols, who had questioned the meeting at the school, which is in Moran Township.

Mr. Dodson briefly updated Council on Michigan Department of Transportation's plans to build a new bus station in St. Ignace, stating that MDOT has amended its contract, raising the maximum compensation DLZ, the project architect, is to receive from $110,149.06 to $118,033.06. The project was put on hold last year because of the state's budget crisis, but funds are now available, Mr. Dodson reported January 7. The delay added about 3% to the $1.3 million state project.

City Treasurer and marina director Gene Elmer informed Council that 101 boats are expected to dock at the St. Ignace Public Marina for the 100th anniversary of the Chicago-to-Mackinac Yacht Race, to be held in mid-July.

The marina has 136 slips. Last year, it hosted 30 boats.

A public hearing will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, February 18, to discuss resubmitting a grant application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for funding to develop the railroad dock into a park. The DDA's was denied funding in its first attempt.

Belonga Plumbing and Heating was the only bidder for the city's 1965 road grader and won the bid with an offer of $551. Minimum bid was $750.

An $1,800 offer from a scrapping company was received past deadline.

Michael Gustafson of St. Ignace beat out one other bidder for the city's two police patrol cars, a 2001 and a 2002 patrol car, both Ford Crown Victorias for a total of $1,225.