Alderwoman Saunders responds to mayor’s statement on the budget

Brentwood Mayor Chris Thornton plans to give a state of the city address at the board of aldermen meeting on Tuesday; he also sent the address to 40 South News for publication.

Ward 1 alderman, Maureen Saunders responded in the article’s comments — specifically about why she and other aldermen voted not to approve the 2016 budget — it was “the $362,0000 in employee raises and how the raises going to be implemented.”

Saunders’ full response:

Mayor Thornton

Thank you for this detailed memo. I am thrilled that the city is moving in a positive direction and happy to have been part of the city’s accomplishments. From initiating the state audit and the moment I took office I pushed for a new auditor, compensation study, financial policies manual, comprehensive plan, updated financial software as well as a city oriented database to track residents concerns. I discussed these issues with you when you were running for Mayor. I explained how the Board Chambers didn’t even have wifi and our software was antiquated. I am happy many of these issues have been addressed.

I have one criticism of your memo. You mentioned that Alderman Saunders, Leahy, Manestar and Lochmueller voted no for the budget and had no suggestions to modify the budget. If you were listening to the reason and had responded to earlier emails the question in point was the $362,0000 in employee raises and how the raises going to be implemented. Last year’s raises were only $195,000 although the firemen received only 1% due to the unearned overtime issue, however, even with 1% they firemen the firemen still are the highest paid in the market. The compensation study showed approximately 19 positions which equates to approximately 50 employees are presently paid at top of market. The question asked repeatedly of staff and you during the meeting regarding the budget was how was the $362,000 in raises being implemented. We were asking if salaries over the 75th percentile were being frozen, if not were the employees at the top of market being frozen. Your answer was that we didn’t need to know that level of detail. You claimed Bola and you understood and that was sufficient. You failed to convene the needed workshops to discuss compensation and bullied through the pay plan refusing to reply to my emails.

The budget could have been passed if staff and you clarified the $362,000 in raises and the definitions in the compensation bill. You claimed the city attorney drafted it, the two aldermen with CPAs, Slusser & Toohey, approved it and implied that some of the aldermen couldn’t read a budget especially if they didn’t have a CPA. My husband is a marketing major and he prepares budgets.

Tonight the detail of how the $362,000 in raises were distributed should be provided and a comparison to the market and prior year salaries. This is basic financial and public information which should be utilized in making compensation decisions.

The Board decides what amount or percentage raise an employee is permitted to earn. Whether an employee earns that raise is completely up to staff and we should not be involved. Knowing what raises are permitted and how the new compensation bill will impact salaries by position is basic information that should be used by the Board in making compensation cities. The Board legislates.

Mayor Thornton you stated that you were not part of the compensation decision. You stated it was the Board’s decision. You told us just to make it rational and sustainable. Staff and you execute our legislation. It seems whenever a vote doesn’t go your way you take to the media instead of sitting down with the aldermen or convening a workshop.
I assume tonight we will have the needed information to make a decision. Again the aldermen’s decisions.

ALDERWOMAN MAUREEN SAUNDERS