HomeMy WebLinkAboutElected Officers Compensation Commission Minutes 03.12.26
MINUTES
Elected Officers Compensation Commission
Thursday, March 12, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m.
City Council Conference Room
Commission Chairperson Melot called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioner Member Liisa Speaker-excused
Commissioner Member Derek Melot
Commissioner Member Ben Kohrman- excused
Commissioner Member Jeff McAlvey
Commissioner Member Holli Seabury
Commissioner Member Steve Young
Commissioner Member Caitlin O’Rourke
OTHERS PRESENT
Sherrie Boak, Council Staff
Greg Venker, OCA
Elizabeth O’Leary, HR Director
Chris Swope, City Clerk
Excused Absences
MOTION BY MCALVEY SUPPORTED BY O’ROURKE TO EXCUSE MEMBERS KOHRMAN AND
SPEAKER. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Approval of Agenda
MOTION BY YOUNG SUPPORTED BY MCALVEY TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
Communications
Chair Melot distributed a memo for discussion further on proposals for compensation.
Business Section
Minutes – February 16, 2026
MOTION BY MCALVEY SUPPORTED BY SEABURY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM
FEBRUARY 16, 2026, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Reports, Presentation, Commission Questions and Discussions
Presentation- City Clerk
Mr. Swope acknowledged the Commission and spoke briefly on the role of the City Clerk, elections,
voter registration, polling locations, training of election workers, and election administration. In addition
to this portion of the department and roles, Mr. Swope spoke on public facing services for business
licenses, marihuana licenses which bring in funds based on State excise tax, and passports.
The Commission had no specific questions at this time.
Past Recommendations
No discussions.
City Top 5 Paid Directors/Executive Management
No discussions.
Collective Bargaining Agreement List
No discussions.
Strong Mayor Comparisons
No discussions.
Inflation Consideration Details
No discussions.
The newest member was asked if she had any specific questions, and Member O’Rourke stated all the
information she was provided before the meeting today was well laid out and justified.
Old Business
Elected Officers Compensation Commission Rules of Administrative Procedure Updates
Member Melot referred to the document drafted by the City Attorney. Mr. Venker stated this is to clean
up some typographical errors, references, and to clarify how leave can be granted for members, and
lastly taking out the changes to procedures had to be mailed, they can be emailed or electronic.
Anyone in attendance can see the changes and discuss and take action.
MOTION BY YOUNG, SUPPORTED BY O’ROURKE TO APPROVE THE UPDATED ELECTED
OFFICERS COMPENSATION COMMISSION RULES OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
New Business
Chair Melot recapped his presentation to Committee of the Whole on Monday, March 9, 2026. He
stated that most questions were on procedural in nature, and he felt everything went well.
Chair Melot referred to the earlier distributed document on proposals for compensation to begin the
discussion. This falls with 3.5% for all Council and 5% for Clerk and Mayor. The document provided
reasoning for each.
ACTION - Elected Officials Summary of Fringe Benefits
The Commission reviewed the document. There was a discussion on the only changes which were
under Parking/Transportation. Ms. Boak noted that the language under Clerk and Mayor is the
language that was recently adopted in Council Rules, since Parking/Transportation under City Council
specifically refers back to their Council Rules. Mr. Venker reviewed the two sections and asked for
clarification on the differences. After discussion by the Commission the consensus was to make
changes under Parking/Transportation in each section (I. For the Mayor and City Clerk Only; II. For City
Councilmembers) “there shall be dedicated parking spaces at David C. Hollister Lansing City Hall, for
Councilmembers, Mayor and Clerk.”
MOTION BY MCALVEY SUPPORTED BY YOUNG TO APPROVE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS’
SUMMARY OF FRINGE BENEFITS WITH THE AMENDMENTS ON PARKING/TRANSPORTATION
TO STATED THERE SHALL BE DEDICATED SPACES. ROLL CALL VOTE, MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
ACTION - Recommendation Letters
Member McAlvey asked Chair Melot if he thought these proposed amounts would pass, and Chair
Melot stated with historical experience they propose three recommendations, and the explanation on
action and rejection.
Ms. Boak asked for clarification on expectation to go to January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027, and
Chair Melot confirmed.
The Commission discussed the proposal for the mayor and addressed inflation. Chair Melot noted all
numbers proposed against inflation from 1991.
The Commission discussed the Clerk responsibilities and validated the proposed increases.
The Commission spoke about future proposed percentage increases for the Clerk and Mayor.
MOTION BY MCALVEY, SUPPORTED BY SEABURY FOR THE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS TO
REFLECT THE CURRENT SALARY AMOUNT FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH 3.5% FOR
2026, RETRO ACTIVE TO 1/1/2026 AND EFFECTIVE 1/1/2027 FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
WITH 5%, RETRO ACTIVE TO 1/1/2026 AND EFFECTIVE 1/1/2027 FOR THE CLERK AND MAYOR.
Chair Melot asked Mr. Venker to check the math, and the consensus of the Commission was to
propose the percentage for the 2 years, not the actual numbers in the recommendation letter.
The commission spoke again about what the next session would do to propose increases to address
inflation.
Mr. Venker asked to clarify that the recommendation letter be the current salary amount with a
percentage increase noted.
ROLL CALL VOTE 5-0.
Commission Member Comments
No comments at this time.
Items Under Suspension of Rules
No discussion.
Public Comment
No public comment at this time.
Chair Melot adjourned the meeting at 12:37 p.m.
Respectively submitted by:
Sherrie Boak, City Council Office Manager
Approved as presented on March 16, 2026