Council Approves Pay Raises for Department Heads

Three city department heads who have not seen salary increases in several years may get raises.

City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that increases the salaries of the finance director, police chief and city clerk.

The ordinance calls for a $16,000 increase for Finance Director Frank Donato, who currently makes $89,900. It calls for a $14,000 increase on Police Chief Chad Callahan's $126,554 salary. And City Clerk Linda MacIntyre would see a $6,000 increase.

The ordinance also calls for 1.5 percent increases in 2013 and 2 percent increases in 2014 to match union employees for the city.

State law requires a police chief's base salary to be higher than that of any of his subordinates, according to City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson.

Councilman Keith Hartzell noted that Donato — chief financial officer for a city with a $70 million budget — ranks 116th of about 250 city employees in salary level and is paid far less than finance directors in comparable towns.

A second reading and public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Aug. 22.