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time to conduct the study in-house would be too <br />great a demand with current levels of staffing <br />(approximately 2 year to complete something of <br />this magnitude) and thereby creating a totally <br />outdated document. The consultants can complete <br />the study in 3-4 months and be of use to Council <br />during budget deliberations. <br />Mayor Fauson stated that the maximum cost of the <br />study is $15,000. However, this cost could be <br />reduced by as much as $3,000 with complete staff <br />cooperation, i.e, immediate return of all <br />questionnaires and timely department head review. <br />Anderson asked if Asti-Caranci had an opinion as <br />to where the City's. pay scale fell in comparison <br />to the area municipal job market. She responded <br />stating that probably the majority of the <br />positions are out of range, lower than the minimum <br />wage level in the market because of not having <br />updated the pay scale in several years. The last <br />time the City conducted a survey, the information <br />used was a year old. <br />Hundley stated that. staff feels it important to <br />know exactly where the City stands. Perhaps the <br />City is not out of line, but Hundley feels that <br />the City owes that to the employees to make an <br />effort to bring the pay scale in line even if it <br />takes a period of from 3 to 5 years. The fact <br />that staff has been reduced by 17 employees <br />indicates that the City should be looking <br />seriously at paying the employees as equitable a <br />wage as the City ca.n. This will be a key step in <br />reaching this goal. <br />Anderson feels that it makes "a tremendous amount <br />of sense to deal with the question in this way and <br />remain competitive --- and retain the quality <br />people ---- as there certainly is a cost involved <br />every time there is a turnover." <br />Anderson moved that Council approve bid award to <br />A. S. Hansen, Inc. f`or the Compensation Study and <br />that the funds, at a maximum amount of $15,000, be <br />allocated from the Contingency Fund. Mayor Fauson <br />seconded. <br />Anderson further charged staff with the <br />responsibility that the employees respond in a <br />timely manner to speed the process and save the <br />City money in completing the study sooner. <br />Sackett stated that he is against the study as it <br />is a lot of money and the contingency fund should <br />7 <br />