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 Compensation Commission 
March 22, 2011

The Compensation Commission met on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. in the Diamond Back Conference Room, in City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

PRESENT
Tom Moore, Chair
Jim Coyle
Steve Edwards
Jim Marrinan

Staff in attendance:  Glenda P. Evans, City Clerk; Brenda Bean, Deputy City Clerk; City Attorney Debra Daniel and Mayor and Council Liaison Councilmember Bridget Donnell Newton.

I.    Convene

Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 06:04 p.m.

Commission member Marrinan inquired about the status of applications for the vacant position on the Commission and if the applications submitted thus far could be distributed to the members of the Commission.  City Attorney Daniel explained that under the MPIA, the applications could only be distributed to the body that appoints them.  One of the applications received was on the old form and Ms. Evans said that a new form would be given to that applicant with the request that it be completed and resubmitted.

II.    Approval March 8, 2011 Minutes

Commission member Marrinan inquired whether the correct date for the next meeting had been reflected and Deputy City Clerk Bean indicated that it had.  Upon motion of Commission member Marrinan, duly seconded by Commission member Edwards and unanimously passed, the minutes of March 8, 2011, were approved.

Commission member Marrinan inquired about the letter that was to go to the City Manager regarding the previous budget omissions, and Chair Moore said that, based on his email conversations with Gavin Cohen, this was no longer necessary.  He suggested that the email between he and Gavin be incorporated into the minutes so as to have it in the record.  The email reads as follows:

"From: GCohen@rockvillemd.gov
Date: March 10, 2011 3:29:28 PM EST
To: SUllery@rockvillemd.gov
Cc: DDaniel@rockvillemd.gov, Tom Moore <tom@moores.org>

Subject: Mayor and Council FY 2012 Compensation

Scott:

Resolution 9-09, adopted by the Mayor and Council on May 18, 2009, specifies the M&C compensation for FY 2010, FY 2011 and FY 2012. The resolution does not address the situation where the M&C decline an increase by not funding the resolution which is what occurred in FY 2011. Based on the request by Tom Moore, we will include in the FY 2012 budget the M&C compensation as if they did receive an increase in FY 2011 and build on that for the FY 2012 increase. This is something that the M&C probably should address as part of the budget deliberations. Thank you.

Compensation FY 2010 resolution

Mayor $25,750
Council $20,600

Compensation FY 2011 resolution (Increased by the Washington-Baltimore CPI-U) 1.6%

Mayor $26,162 FY 2011 BUDGET Mayor $25,750
Council $20,930 Council $20,600

Compensation FY 2012 resolution (Increased by the Washington-Baltimore CPI-U) 1.6%

Mayor $26,581
Council $21,265


Gavin Cohen
CFO/Director of Finance
City of Rockville
Phone: 240-314-8402"

III.    Discussion and finalization of the City of Rockville Compensation Commission Draft Report

There was discussion on the report that Chair Moore had drafted and highlights of that discussion included:

• Report is due on March 31, 2011.
• The mayor and council are not considered employees; their classification is different.
• Include in the report that the Commission meetings were open to the public and advertised as such.  Also include a summary of public input.
• Reiterate earlier discussions that unless the Mayor and Council specifically act on it, the resolution containing recommendations by the Commission automatically go into effect.
• Make very clear that the recommendation is on a well-grounded basis and, barring any extraordinary circumstances; the Mayor and Council should approve and fund the increases.
• What is being proposed is consistent with what has already been adopted.
• Necessary to develop a process that includes compensation levels in future budgets.
• Have clear language that reflects there is a mechanism/process so that the public knows it is a citizen appointed group making the recommendations.
• the Washington-Baltimore CPI-U remains an appropriate index to use to modify the stipends each year. 
• at the beginning of FY2013, increase stipends by any positive change in the November 2010-November 2011 Washington-Baltimore CPI-U.
• at the beginning of FY2014, increase stipends by any positive change in the November 2011-November 2012 Washington-Baltimore CPI-U.

The discussion on the draft report concluded and Commission member Edwards made a motion to approve the recommendations and that the amendments and corrections discussed be added.  The motion was seconded by Commission member Coyle and unanimously passed.

IV.    Discussion of Draft Agenda for April 11, 2011 Worksession

City Clerk Evans said that she would draft the agenda cover sheet using, primarily, the information contained in the Report as the basis. She said that she would email this when once complete.

Commission member Coyle asked for the document(s) relating to the original establishment of the Compensation Commission and City Clerk Evans indicated that it was part of the Charter and she would extract that information and have it available for the worksession.

Chair Moore indicated that he would make the presentation at the Mayor and Council worksession and Commission members Coyle and Edwards would be present.   Commission member Marrinan is not able to attend the worksession.

V.    Next Steps - Timeline and Dates for Meetings

A)    Compensation Commission worksession with Mayor and Council will take place on April 11, 2011.

B)    Compensation Commission will convene on April 11, 2011 just prior to the Mayor and Council meeting for the purpose of approving the minutes of the March 22, 2011 meeting.

C)    City Clerk will prepare draft agenda cover sheet for worksession and circulate to the Commission

D)    City Clerk will provide enabling legislation for establishment of     Compensation Commission and circulate to the Commission

E)    Chair Moore will make changes discussed this evening, incorporate into a new Draft Report and circulate to the Commission

VII.    Adjournment

Chair Moore thanked the members for all their work.   Upon motion of Commission member Edwards, duly seconded by Commission member Marrinan and unanimously passed, the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.