By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
How much should Union Grove’s municipal employees receive? When should raises be handed out? What are comparable municipalities paying their employees?
These are some of the questions an outside firm will attempt to tackle for an employee classification and compensation study that is getting underway after the Village Board cast a binding vote on the proposal at a meeting July 22.
Village Administrator Connor LaPointe presented the board with two prospective firms that specialize in delving into municipal employee salaries, and the structures that could be put in place to determine wage ranges and pay increases.
The firm Public Administration Associates has been tapped to undertake the effort at a cost not to exceed $11,200 for an estimated 112 hours of consultant time. One other firm – MGT of America Consulting LLC – also submitted a bid at a fixed rate of $16,700.
LaPointe in a memo outlined the rationale behind undertaking an employee classification and compensation study at this time.
“The village is currently without a well-defined compensation plan, which creates confusion for both employees and those responsible for setting wages,” LaPointe said. “A classification and compensation study is pertinent to ensuring that we have a clear, fair and competitive pay structure.”
In his discussion with the board at the July 22 meeting, LaPointe said there are a number of considerations to take into account for each of the village’s positions, including the difficulty and skill level of the job – which would factoring in the position grade – and a person’s years of services.
LaPointe said there are a number of “deliverables” he will want from Public Administration Associates, including a look at the local market and how that might play into future wages and employment recruitment efforts.
“They’re going to look at population, budget and services in the community – those types of things,” LaPointe said.
Having in place an established employee classification and compensation structure has a number of benefits, LaPointe said. Such a structure, he argued, is not currently in place within village government.
“(Employees) are going to now what to expect,” he said. “It’s going to be different than now.”
Trustee Jan Winget said she was comfortable with awarding the contract to Public Administration Associates, pointing out the firm helped the village recruit its first administrator in the 1990s.
“We’ve had a long history of working with them,” Winget said.
Private lateral survey forthcoming
At the July 22 Village Board meeting, LaPointe also discussed a forthcoming utility survey that will be sent to residences in the coming weeks.
The survey, which the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is requiring, is asking residents to look into whether properties are being services with private lead service laterals.
LaPointe in his report on the upcoming initiative indicated the village will be sending out letters to property owners the week of July 29 with further details. Responses will be collected through September.
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