The person who fills the position of Hillsdale city clerk and treasurer should be paid $18,000 more than they currently are, according to local accountant Greg Bailey.
Bailey, of Bailey, Hodshire & Company, delivered a report to the Hillsdale City Council Monday in which he recommended that the clerk/treasurer compensation should be $26,000. It’s currently around $7,500, he said.
“We’ve had two resignations of clerks in the past two years,” Bailey said. “The Daily News said it was because of the duties required and the lack of compensation. So it makes sense based on all the duties to increase the compensation. All the duties take 20 to 25 hours a week. Based on that, we thought $26,000, because they need to take on all of the clerk duties.”
The city clerk’s office used to have a full time staff, but in recent years only one person has filled the position of city clerk.
The council agreed to consider the suggestion, but it only has 30 days to decide before the compensation increase will automatically go into effect.
“If [council] takes no action, then what we say goes into effect,” Bailey said. “Council has to vote to reject the determination. If they do nothing, then the determination in 30 days will take effect. They’ll probably bring it up at the next meeting.”
In other business, the council approved the city of Hillsdale’s contract with Domestic Harmony for $5,000 to supplement their annual budget.
“I think many would agree Domestic Harmony provides critical assistance to the city of Hillsdale,” Julia Penig of Domestic Harmony told council. “I am always profoundly grateful for your support. I look to you as leaders of our city to help us operate within our budget.”
The council also approved the transfer of the lease of a hangar at Hillsdale Municipal Airport from the city to Jason Walters.
Airport Advisory Committee Chairman Jeff King called out the council for not notifying the committee about the lease when the council called him to the podium for comment.
“Our resolution specifically spells out we are supposed to offer recommendations to council on airport issues. We can’t do that if information is withheld from us,” King told the Collegian in an email. “With all due respect to Mr. Terry, he is incorrect saying we shouldn’t have seen this information because ‘it was in process’ before the airport committee was being created.”
While the lease was not reviewed by the committee, acting City Manager Doug Terry said the committee did not need to review it for council to approve it.
“This document was in the process of being rewritten prior to the AAC’s formation,” Terry said. “It had already received legal counsel review, already in the process of coming before council.”
Hillsdale County Commissioner Ruth Brown also announced that the city of Hillsdale is eligible for a $12,000 state grant. She is currently seeking more information about Hillsdale’s eligibility.
“I believe we’re eligible for it. I’d like to get that,” Brown said.
