Elyria Council voices concern over administration positions

ELYRIA — City Council members expressed concern with the number of administration positions under Mayor Frank Whitfield on Monday. Under Whitfield, there are three assistant safety service directors and one safety service director. Council President Vic Stewart, D-at large, questioned the job roles of each assistant and the salaries they are paid. He and other Council members have asked that job definitions of the assistant safety service directors be sent to them. Stewart said he wants to be sure the budget can handle the additional positions. He said Council wanted detailed descriptions of what each person is doing. While Whitfield has the right to hire on the positions, Stewart said he wants to be sure it's accounted for in the budget and manageable. "We're anticipating an influx of money with American Rescue Plan, but what happens if we didn't have this money and if COVID never existed? We have to have that approach and still be mindful of what we're spending," Stewart said. "We're still accountable to our residents." Whitfield said that Dawn Calvert focuses on economic development, Ren Flanders works with technology and communications and newly hired Tim Williams will focus on grants, internal initiatives and community and police relations. Whitfield said he follows the same salary structure that was set by City Council several years ago. The rate of pay for assistant safety service directors is in line with previous administrations, Whitfield said. He said he hasn't edited the salary scale, and he hasn't had to go before any committee to ask for staff raises that are above the structure. There are two more assistant safety service directors compared to former Mayor Holly Brinda's administration. Brinda's administration used one safety service director and one assistant safety service director. Brinda also employed an executive assistant, administration assistant and administration specialist. Whitfield has two administration specialists. In total, Brinda had a total of about $532,000 spent on administration, including her salary. Two years later, Whitfield spends about $704,000, including his salary. Hiring assistant safety service directors falls under the mayor's authority, and he does not need permission from City Council. The pay steps are outlined by city ordinance. The positions fall under several budgets, including safety service, mayor's office and administrative support. Safety Service Director Kevin Brubaker makes more than $113,000, about $10,000 more than the last safety service director made two years ago. Flanders makes more than $91,000, about $2,000 less than what Brubaker made when he was assistant safety service director for former Mayor Holly Brinda in 2019. Calvert makes just over $97,000 and Williams makes just over $100,000. Whitfield said the assistant safety service directors are in place to support Brubaker and give services to residents. Before Derek Feuerstein left his role with the city, he headed up the Human Resources Department. With him gone, the city will hire an HR director at about $90,000. The dollars for human resources will come out of the HR budget. Whitfield said the goal is to have a director hired by June 1. There was interest at the city's recent job fair, and a consultant is working through those applications. Whitfield said there will also be some head hunting so it can be a diverse search. Brubaker said a consultant with Sapphire HR Solutions is in a couple of days a week to bridge the gap of a HR director. "We have a lot of things going on with the HR department," Brubaker said. "We have a lot of movement with people retiring and job bids and filling those positions." Council did approve raises for the mayor, finance director and law director at the start of the new term. Councilman Mark Jessie, D-3rd Ward, said Council has been concerned since last spring about the potential budget hits. CARES Act dollars tided over much of Elyria's budget woes, giving the city a strong carryover from 2020 to 2021. However, the city's income tax revenue has been consistently down every month since around May of last year. "But I have to tell you I'm concerned about pretty significant increases in salaries in the mayor's office now as opposed to two years ago," Jessie said. "And that's a concern for me." Flanders received a promotion to assistant safety service director in the new year, bumping up her pay about $37,000. Administration Specialist Mark Ballard II also received a pay raise in the new year of about $19,000. Stewart said Whitfield has assured him that he holds his staff accountable to doing their jobs. And he said Council has to be assured that they will continue to do those jobs. "We'll keep an eye on it," Stewart said. Whitfield said there's two ways he can lead the city: sit back and manage what comes to him or be active in developing things. "And I'm an active mayor that's trying to actively develop the city and that requires more capacity," he said. "If I was sitting back and just watching, I wouldn't need a lot of people to help out." Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.