City discusses evaluation system for non-union employees
NORWICH – A resolution authorizing a cost of living increase of three percent for non-unit employees was a stumbling point for the City of Norwich Common Council Tuesday night.
The cost of living increase of three percent would amount to a difference of between $8,000 and $12,000 for the approximately 11 non-bargaining city employees. Although, the cost of living increases are generally kept approximately the same as the amount given to the union employees, some members of the council found fault in the way the increases are given across the board.
“At this point, the discussion is that the raises should be based on merit, but we have no evaluations on an annual basis, so if one person receives three percent, everyone does,” said Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey. “My concern is if you have someone who performs at a high level, and someone who doesn’t, you’re rewarding them as if they were performing at the same level.”
Human Resources Director Deborah Deforest explained if that was a concern, many agencies provide the cost of living adjustment at a uniform amount and then give stipends to reward employees for their work. In order to install a system for evaluations and performance reviews, Deforest said a third party agency would have to be brought in to set up and create a system. When previously investigated, Deforest said she found the cost to be approximately $50,000.
While Mayor Joseph Maiurano said the point was valid, he told the council the amount was already budgeted and the time for setting up the program for this year had already passed. “I believe we budgeted the three percent cost of living raise. I believe that should go through. If you want to do something different, you have to do it before the budget for that year. At this point, we can make a point to that before next year’s budget we have something different in place so we don’t have to go through three or four meetings discussing this like we have in the past years,” Maiurano said.
Fourth Ward Alderman Walter Schermerhorn responded by saying “then that information should be made available before it is in there (the budget.) There is a lot of critical information in the budget and we have little time to go through the whole thing.”
First Ward Alderman Robert Carey and Jeffrey both expressed they didn’t want the department heads to feel like the city wasn’t supportive of them. “I don’t want to see the department heads not compensated,” Jeffrey said.
The council unanimously passed the resolution authorizing the three percent increase. Maiurano said information on setting up an evaluation system will be examined before the 2009 budget is created.
The cost of living increase of three percent would amount to a difference of between $8,000 and $12,000 for the approximately 11 non-bargaining city employees. Although, the cost of living increases are generally kept approximately the same as the amount given to the union employees, some members of the council found fault in the way the increases are given across the board.
“At this point, the discussion is that the raises should be based on merit, but we have no evaluations on an annual basis, so if one person receives three percent, everyone does,” said Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey. “My concern is if you have someone who performs at a high level, and someone who doesn’t, you’re rewarding them as if they were performing at the same level.”
Human Resources Director Deborah Deforest explained if that was a concern, many agencies provide the cost of living adjustment at a uniform amount and then give stipends to reward employees for their work. In order to install a system for evaluations and performance reviews, Deforest said a third party agency would have to be brought in to set up and create a system. When previously investigated, Deforest said she found the cost to be approximately $50,000.
While Mayor Joseph Maiurano said the point was valid, he told the council the amount was already budgeted and the time for setting up the program for this year had already passed. “I believe we budgeted the three percent cost of living raise. I believe that should go through. If you want to do something different, you have to do it before the budget for that year. At this point, we can make a point to that before next year’s budget we have something different in place so we don’t have to go through three or four meetings discussing this like we have in the past years,” Maiurano said.
Fourth Ward Alderman Walter Schermerhorn responded by saying “then that information should be made available before it is in there (the budget.) There is a lot of critical information in the budget and we have little time to go through the whole thing.”
First Ward Alderman Robert Carey and Jeffrey both expressed they didn’t want the department heads to feel like the city wasn’t supportive of them. “I don’t want to see the department heads not compensated,” Jeffrey said.
The council unanimously passed the resolution authorizing the three percent increase. Maiurano said information on setting up an evaluation system will be examined before the 2009 budget is created.
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