Saline City Council approves new police chief contract, raises for city staff
The $91,000 contract of new Saline police Chief Larry Hrinikwas unanimously approved Monday night by the Saline City Council.
“The new chief will begin July 2, subject to him passing a background check, which we don’t expect will be a problem, and he’ll officially be sworn in by the clerk that morning,” said City Manager Todd Campbell.
Courtesy of the city of Saline
In addition, he will receive $5,000 for moving expenses and will be allowed to take home a city-owned vehicle.
“The Saline police chief will receive 40 hours of vacation time in addition to the amount of vacation time provided to employees … this additional 40 hours will be provided … after receiving a satisfactory job performance evaluation by the city manager upon completing six months on the job,” the contract states.
The city will host a meet-and-greet for Hrinik on July 2 at 4 p.m. to be followed by a ceremonial swearing in at 4:30 p.m.
The City Council also approved contracts for non-union and appointed officials, which includes a 2 percent cost of living increase beginning July 1 for a total of $22,431.
“The employees in City Hall are very high caliber, very dedicated to the city … I can’t say thank you enough,” said Mayor Gretchen Driskell.
She said that with the reductions in city staff, “a lot of people are doing a lot more work; it’s a good compromise for this year.”
Council Member Dean Girbach agreed, saying that the City Council has asked staff to contribute more to their retirement.
Although they got a slight raise, these employees will not get step increases nor will they get merit bonuses. In addition, these non-union employees now have to contribute 3 percent of their gross salary for their retirement to Michigan Employee Retirement System or MERS.
Before the vote, Saline resident Mary Hess advocated for $1,000 across-the-board increases for all staff members before the City Council vote stating that those employees “on the top of the totem pole” would receive more money than those making less money.
Hess called out the outstanding work of Clerk Dianne Hill, who was recently named 2012 City Clerk of the Year by the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks. She was nominated by Driskell and was voted on by the association's membership.
Hill will receive the award on June 20. Of the 16 city staff members, two make more than $100,000. Campbell will soon begin receiving about $107,000. In 2011, he received about $105,000. Gary Roubal, engineer, traffic engineer and street administrator, will begin making about $104,000 on July 1. He made about $101,000 in 2011.
Council Member Jim Roth has an excused absence from the meeting.
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.
Comments
snapshot
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 10:39 a.m.
Polly Market going out of business, public employees giving out raises. How out of touch can you get? Public employees don't have a clue but worse yet, they thing they do.
snapshot
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 10:40 a.m.
That would be "think" they do.
citizenwhocares
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
I generally agree with most of these comments. Let me take it to another level. There are plenty of candidates out there that are younger, raising families, and likely weighed down by debt. I make these particlar points to illustrate a comparative view whereas this new Chief, who I'm sure is highly qualified and worth every penny, has ALREADY RETIRED. He probably has no debt, his kids have long moved on, is ALREADY COLLECTING A PENSION and is taking up a position that HE DOESN'T NEED in place of someone else that does. There are thousands of people looking for a job that are highly qualified and would take such a positon for less pay, and probably even forfeit the pension for a 401k. No one is suggesitng an 18 year high school should get the position - that is a ludicrous statement. What we are saying is make room for someone else that is highly qualified, younger with drive and passion to better themselves and the community, someone that sorely needs a job or an oppurtunity to move up in the world, all with a much reduced impact to the tax payers. Mr. Hrinik had his moment and I thank him for his service - now move on and make room for the others behind you or take only 50% of this salary, give up your pension and your 4 week vacation and your moving allowance and save the tax payers some money. I'm certain your current pension as a retired police chief can afford you the expense.
ez12c
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
It is the Chief of Police. You don't want an 18 year old high school drop out making $7.40 per hour and no benefits running the department. Do you? and as for everyone else.... $1,000 raise for the year. That won't keep up with costs of living. Lighten up people. Help each other instead of complaining that everyone else makes too much money.
CobraII
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
Who got a raise in the private sector in the last couple of years?
CobraII
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
What is the new chief's real salary? The article says its prorated. I think the members of the counsel are out of touch with the private sector.
da' shark
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Cobrall said: "I think the members of the counsel are out of touch with the private sector." Wow! This is the first comment in this story that's made any real sense!
Hemenway
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 4:13 a.m.
Wow, Handsome salaries for these public servants, government costs out of control, taxes on the rise folks, tighten your belt. Sounds like quite a mutual admiration society in The City of Saline. I would advise Mayor Driskell that all of us in corporate America are doing more work due to staff reductions, not just in the public sector.
Mom in Town
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
Probably paying for it with all the tickets they have written in the last week. Feels just about like marshall law with all the police on the streets lately. I realize it was race weekend, but it's crazy.
zip the cat
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
Since when do you hire someone and give him the mother lode for a wage and fringe bennys and then do a BACKGROUND check. "Hello" what planet has the city of saline been living on. The first thing you do before hireing anyone is to do a background check, not after you hire them. I'd say someone is a few bricks short of a full load
da' shark
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
Sorry...contingent UPON successful completion of the background check...
da' shark
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
Zip: the position is contingent about successful completion of the background check. Not your fault for misunderstanding, just the way the information was presented. Typically, in public service, the background check is performed prior to an offer, which is the case here (taken from other articles on this very subject).
ussubmariner
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
There is a reason that the federal government has a MANDATORY retirement age for law enforcement and firefighters, age 57. These individuals have an enhanced retirement system that allows them to retire with either 20 years and age 50 or 25 years at any age. The reason for this is that their jobs are extremely dangerous, stressfull and most are wore down by the time they reach 50. Why do we continue to allow these individuals to double dip. If they needed to retire then they should not be re-employed in the same capacity or in the field of law enforcement. Their are plenty of staff that dream about a job like this and stay on the department in hopes of someday being promoted. If you retire you should be done as a public employee... Or forfeit your pension until you re-retire.
Mike
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.
So let me get this right. They hired a retired police chief so he will be collecting one pension while he is collecting a $91,000 salary. On top of that he will contribute some small percentage of his salary so he can collect a second pension once he retires from Saline. Add to that the fact that he gets an additional 40 hours of paid vacation on top of what other employees get which is likely five weeks plus holidays and sick time after a few years. And then they gave pay raises to all of the other employees. Probably so they wouldn't complain about the sweet deal the chief is getting. Saline must be rolling in dough, if they are I'm glad for them. If not I hope they're not paying for this with some kind of grant and driving the federal government deeper into debt. Is it just me or does this not seem sustainable? In an area where we trumpet sustainable living in every publication and school we sure don't worry about fiscal sustainability.
da' shark
Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Hey Mike - I don't know the specifics of your job, and I'm not standing up for the city of Saline, but my job, and just about everyone else I know, allows them to seek employment anywhere after retirement...pension or no pension. My employer doesn't state that I can't get another job with retirement benefits. Just saying...this isn't a unique situation in the public employee sector.