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Columns Article 3197: 19-Oct-08
County Commission Pay Complaints Fail to Suggest What Remedy is Proposed By: Dave Rogers |
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artconinmich Says:
On October 20, 2008
at 01:53 AM
Doesn't the County Commission have an appointed pay commission that sets their pay? Or is a pay commission only utilized in non-partisan elections such as City Council, etc?
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chess5 Says:
On October 23, 2008
at 10:08 AM
I direct my comments to the "Benefits Paid" and not the performance by any Commissioner. I am not so much concerned about the dollars paid although I think they are questionable for someone who portends to be interested in serving the Public. As I see it, our County Commissioners are like employees not 'Elected Officials', as has been said, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a DUCK". I strongly object to the County giving them Health Care and Pension consideration as non-employees; remember they are ELECTED. I worked in various paid Public Service positions for over 32 years and know that in a administrative capacity the job is a 24/7 commitment if one is dedicated to SERVE. I have also spent many hours on various Boards and committees working for the good of our Citizens without much compensation similar to our School Board. I can understand some compensation for incidentals such as travel costs or meals when warranted, but, PAID BENEFITS are beyond reasonableness in my opinion. To some of the Commissioners this has been a "job" which in some cases may provide better benefits than their past employment in the Private Sector. I do not buy in to the self serving statement that the lack of such wide ranged BENEFITS would detract from the quality of individuals coming forth from the Community to "SERVE". I feel that some of these funds could be better spent hiring a "real employees' in some of our short handed strapped Departments. Please don't get trapped in the old game of comparison to other 'like' Communities. What others do may not be suitable to our needs. Let's be our own people and do the right thing hear and drop the Health and Pension Benefit package we already have hired employees who do a great job running this County. That is one of the reasons I voted for an Executive Form Of Government in the first place. The Commission should serve as a check and balance body without micro-managing and be compensated accordingly with stipends not "SALARIES".
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