Retro Pay for Cops, Other Employees Will be Decided Tonight

Despite a plea from Police Chief Paul Geiszler on Oct. 30 to allow former cops to receive a retroactive two percent cost of living increase, the finance committee passed on a decision, forwarding it to the Common Council.

The and employees of the city, including police officers, would receive a retropay check as a result. However, as some employees may have retired, resigned or been terminated earlier in the year, the question on whether to compensate those employees was unresolved.

"We have three employees impacted by this, who retired with 98 years combined service, and it's my opinion that anybody who worked here whether they retired or left during 2012 is clearly entitled to back pay," Geiszler had argued. "This is a fairness issue - because you didn't vote on back pay until they left shouldn't mean they are left out of consideration."

The decision will be left to the council tonight as the finance committee was split: Alderman Dan Soltsiak voted no to any compensation; Alderman Neil Borgman sided with compensating any employee who worked during 2012 regardless of the reason they left, and Alderman Neome Schaumberg took the middle ground, opting for compensation only for those who weren't terminated. 

Other issues before the council include:

• Determination on whether the city should purchase the former BP property from the county for $1. The land needs some clean up from slight contamination, and Alderman Kert Harenda had asked for additional time to review environmental studies.
• Approval of expenditure to construct a driveway and parking area at the Badertscher Preserve (formally the Borst property). The land was purchased by the city as environmentally significant and constitutes about 100 acres of watershed for Little Muskego Lake.
• Approval to award the contract for a facilities study to Zimmerman Architectural Studios. The city will be hiring a firm to survey its properties (City Hall, Muskego Police Department, Muskego Public Library among them) to determine for most efficient and 'highest and best' use of space for the present and future, and has budgeted $50,000 to do so. Zimmerman's bid came in at just under $40,000.

The Finance Committee will meet at 6:15 p.m. in the Alderman's room, with Council convening at 7 p.m. in the Muskego Room at Muskego City Hall.