Brentwood compensation bill vote failed, reintroduced at next BOA meeting

It’s still undecided whether or not Brentwood will pay a consultant to study the city’s compensation of its employees.

At the last vote, at the Oct. 21 meeting, the board split 3-3 on the issue. A majority is required for a bill to pass so it failed. Aldermen Lee Wynn, Keith Robertson and Andy Leahy voted no. Tom Kramer, Patrick Toohey and Maureen Saunders voted yes.

From that meeting:

Mayor Pat Kelly said he was against spending almost $30,000 for something that they can’t access or don’t already have. “A report was given to us by a local municipality that had starting salaries, that had high range and current salaries of all of their department heads for 10 or 11 municipalities surrounding us, who I would say would be our peers, including Frontenac, Ladue, Shrewsbury, Webster Groves, Richmond Heights and so forth. The report was very detailed.”

Julie Echols, Brentwood’s human resources manager, said when she’s asked about the city’s compensation, “I’m uncomfortable giving that kind of data or an opinion without there being fresh information that a professional has put together that says this is where you’re at, internally and externally. And yes, there is value in seeing that information, but that’s a judgement that you guys have to make. Is it valuable? Yes. Is it essential? That’s for you guys to decide.”

Ward 1 Alderwoman Maureen Saunders said she is for the study because the board needs to be responsible with residents’ tax dollars. “I like to tip to the high end to keep employees, but we don’t have to overpay.”

Ward 4 Alderman Tom Kramer compared different cities to three houses on the same street that may look similar from the outside, but may be entirely different. The city needs a benchmark, he said.

At the Nov. 4 meeting, Ward 4 Alderman Tom Kramer, one of the yes votes at the Oct. 21 meeting, sponsored a new bill that reintroduced the topic.

Saunders asked city attorney Frank Albrecht if Robert’s Rules of Orders allows an alderman to reintroduce an identical bill repeated times, and Albrecht said there is nothing in state statues or city ordinances to prohibit it.

The bill stayed on the agenda. When it came up in the meeting, Saunders moved for it to be put on hold until the full board is present to vote (Ward 2 Alderwoman Cindy Manestar wasn’t there). Saunders also said she’d like the Ways and Means Committee to discuss a revised salary plan for public safety. The motion passed and the bill was put on hold.