Community Commentary:

This will be my second commentary based on the misleading information being disseminated by most of the candidates in the coming council election and gadflies who are actively supporting one or more of the candidates. This is regarding the so-called “bloated” salaries of city workers.

In my 12 years of representing Glendale as a council member, I have been actively involved in negotiating employment contracts for our police, fire, city employees, middle management and executives.

Council members receive a great deal of information from staff about current salaries and benefits along with information on what more than 12 other cities’ salary and benefit schedules are currently. The reason for this comparison is to assure ourselves that we are negotiating for comparative and competitive salaries and benefits paid by other cities, that we are not higher or lower within a reasonable tolerance. We are totally aware that if we are too low, we will lose very qualified people to other entities. If we are too high, then we are not being fiscally conservative; we are using money that needs to be considered for other uses.

The loss of highly qualified workers creates significant problems for all of us, depending on what positions they hold. For instance, if we are looking to hire an individual as a firefighter, policeman, engineer or electrical line worker, it can take months or up to a year or more to recruit, train and bring that individual up to a full performance level. The cost to the taxpayer for this training, again dependent on the position, can be very expensive.

Likewise, other cities, counties and some private entities are looking to hire away our experienced personnel for the same reasons. All cities are competing against one another, and we must make sure we are staying in the game of personnel retention.

I have heard council candidates and gadflies in recent years accuse the city councils I have served on of overpaying employees. We have to be cognizant of what the public sector pays their employees throughout the region. I need to remind everyone that our salaries should remain competitive with other agencies.

All our employee associations are aware of the financial crisis affecting the United States at all levels, including local government. They know they must be willing to listen to staff members and City Council members if and when they are approached to discuss their existing contracts.