Porter Council approves ordinance outlining salary ranges
Deborah Laverty Times Correspondent
Jan 9, 2016
NWI Times
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/porter-council-approves-ordinance-outlining-salary-ranges/article_84e2264f-f8f3-5e4c-89f5-9c6420a94128.html
PORTAGE — After much discussion, the Portage City Council approved on Saturday an ordinance outlining salary ranges, including that for a new economic development director position and an existing harbor master position.
The ordinance, approved in a 4-3 vote, allows for the payment of an approximately $90,000 annual salary for Portage resident Andy Maletta, who on Friday was named the city's first economic development director, Mayor James Snyder said.
Snyder praised Maletta's background and credentials and said the timing is right for a person of Maletta's caliber to be brought in when there are so many major city developmental projects that need handling.
"I think we got a deal at $90,000. Portage won," Snyder said.
The special meeting on Saturday was called by Snyder to take final action on the ordinance after the Portage City Council split on a final vote last week at the regular meeting.
New council members Scott Williams, D-3rd, and Collin Czilli, D-5th, along with council member Sue Lynch, D-at-large, voted against moving the ordinance forward on a single reading.
The three council members on Saturday questioned at length specifics of the ordinance and again voted no on its final approval.
Czilli questioned the proposed range of salary, $92,000 to $112,000, for the position of the city's economic development director.
"I can't see paying that to someone who is a brand-new employee. What's it based on?" Czilli said.
Czilli said he had done his own research, checking with other area city's on what is paid to economic development directors, and found that range to be on the high side.
An attempt by Williams, to lower the salary range for the economic development director's position to between $65,00 to $85,000, failed after it was only supported by Czilli and Lynch.
City Councilwoman Elizabeth Modesto, D-1st, argued that the economic development director position is one that is needed in Portage.
Modesto countered that other communities, including Hammond, are paying considerably more to their economic development directors.
"You get what you pay for," Modesto said.
Williams said he wasn't questioning the need for the economic development director position just the salary range.
"It's very much needed," Williams said.
Lynch questioned whether the harbor master position would be full or part-time and if it included benefits such as insurance.
Snyder said the position would be full-time and would include insurance benefits.
"It's the right thing to do," Snyder said.
The pay range approved for the harbor master position ranges from $30,000 to $40,000 under the salary ordinance.
Snyder said none of the positions approved will have an impact on the city budget since funding will come through the Utility Service Board and the Redevelopment Commission.
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