Wow. Trigger-happy pay raises for a whole bunch of top
administrative employees at City Hall
– triggered by the best union contract the city signs, triggered
by the highest pay in
”
neighboring
”
cities like Campbell, triggered by, well, just about everything
you could possibly trigger a possible pay raise by.
Wow. Trigger-happy pay raises for a whole bunch of top administrative employees at City Hall – triggered by the best union contract the city signs, triggered by the highest pay in “neighboring” cities like Campbell, triggered by, well, just about everything you could possibly trigger a possible pay raise by.
And it all magically appeared on the City Council’s consent agenda, the spot reserved for items that deserve little or no attention from our elected officials, who voted 5-1-1 Monday night to put in place a quasi-union salary schedule system that will essentially lock in raises for top administrative leaders regardless of merit. Raises for merit, of course, can be awarded on top of the trigger-happy hikes.
Half the current number of 40 City Hall administrators covered by this proposal will receive instant raises. The others, presumably, will have to wait for good things to happen.
How quickly did this speed through City Hall? Faster than the proverbial speeding bullet. On the agenda Friday, voted on by the Council Monday. Wow.
Sure, the process started years ago with a “Exempt Group Compensation Study”, but the segment that could potentially involve the public and create the dreaded controversy was orchestrated in Tchaicowsky-like fashion.
And the only way for it to be reconsidered is for someone who voted in the majority to re-agendize the item. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Mayor Al Pinheiro or any of the councilmembers to actually want a public discourse on the matter. Peter Arellano, Dion Bracco, Russ Valiquette and Paul Correa gave it their “zeal” of approval. Roland Velasco abstained due to a conflict of interest: He’s married to an exempt city employee.
Only Councilman Craig Gartman voted emphatically against the proposal.
Well, the truth is we in Gilroy get the government we deserve. If you think that a significant proposal such as this deserves more scrutiny in public by the City Council, speak up. Call the mayor, write a letter to the editor, dash off an e-mail or ask the Chamber of Commerce Government Review Committee to take up the issue.
If you think Gilroy’s executives should have the luxury of union-like pay hikes on top of being eligible for merit pay increases, stay silent and wonder why the city can’t pay for park maintenance or cracked sidewalks or pay more to a clerk or recreation worker.
If you wonder where the list of $150,000-per-year employees who are fleeing to go to work in Watsonville or Hollister, ask your friendly neighborhood City Councilman for it.
Otherwise, consider secret retirements and stealth pay hikes to be the norm in Gilroy.
