Council approves changes to city manager’s contract
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City employees, including City Manager Jim Bennett, will see a slight pay increase this year, with city councilors voting unanimously on Monday, Feb. 6, to increase Bennett’s salary by 2 percent and extend his contract by a year.
City Council Chair Emily Smith explained how the city manager’s contract works and how the increase in pay was determined.
“The city manager has a rolling three-year contract. By March of each year we (councilors) have to review and add a third year to the contract, or there are consequences,” said Smith.
Smith indicated the Council “feels Mr. Bennett’s doing a good job. Jim’s coming up with ideas and things to look into.”
The city manager’s salary is $95,000 annually at present, said Smith, and his contract has several pieces to it.
“We did get a memo from Jim just stating non-union employees of the city received a 2 percent increase this year and union employees received 1.7 percent increase. He said he wouldn’t feel comfortable with more than all employees across the board were receiving,” said Smith. “That’s kind of the insight we got from Jim.”
Bennett’s position, according to Smith, is considered non-union. She recommended a motion to increase Bennett’s salary by 2 percent.
Councilor Dick Engels indicated there were no salary increases for 2011. Smith confirmed salaries were not increased in 2011, in an effort by the city to “hold the line” on spending.
Councilors then voted in favor of increasing the city manager’s salary by 2 percent.
