The Oconto County Board on Thursday adopted a more restrictive compensation policy for its County Board chairman, scheduled to take effect this month.
Supervisors, with a 25-5 vote, eliminated the supplemental compensation the chairman receives for attending various events, seminars, banquets and ceremonies. Instead, the chairman’s $7,200 annual salary will cover these appearances.
The board chairperson’s fees for committee attendance were also curtailed.
Supervisor Gerald Beekman said the board’s intent was to treat the chair like any other county supervisor, saying it was “time to stop this frivolous spending of money.”
“The purpose of your salary is to compensate you for all of the extra things you do as county board chairman,” he said, addressing County Board Chairman Lee Rymer.
Supervisor Rose Stellmacher listed $60 payments made to Rymer since 2011 for attendance at a events including a flag raising ceremony, Republican caucus, homemakers banquet and ribbon cutting.
“Those are all things that come under your $7,200 salary,” she said.
“To be paid per diems for all those crazy things that’s been going on in the past is wrong,” Beekman said. “It’s not fair to the taxpayers.”
Facing criticism, Rymer in February repaid the county $512.85 for meals, mileage and per diem (payment for attendance) for 2014 and 2015 events that included an Oconto County Economic Development Corporation Christmas party, Youth Government Day and the Warbirds fly-in.
Another change in the County Board rules adopted Thursday limits the scope of committee meetings the chairman is duty-bound to attend. According to the rules, the chairman is to serve as chairperson of the finance/insurance committee and emergency management committee. He is also assigned to the technology services committee.
Rymer attended additional committee meetings, earning a $60 per diem for each.
With a 28-2 vote, supervisors removed language that stated the chairperson was to attend other committee meetings “as deemed necessary by the committee.” Supervisor Greg Sekela and Rymer cast the only no votes.
Going forward, the chairperson will not be compensated to attend committee meetings other than the three he is assigned to, unless his presence is formerly requested by a committee in advance. In this instance, the chairperson would receive half a per diem, or $30.
Stellmacher said the chairman is welcome to attend committee meetings to keep abreast of what’s happening in the county, like other supervisors do, without being compensated.
“I feel it’s very important the chair attend committee meetings,” Rymer responded, citing as examples the meetings involving a $30 million law enforcement center project under development and a land swap between the county and Gregory Company that enabled the manufacturer to expand its facility and workforce.
“I’ve always thought the chair should get the full per diem, like the committee members,” he said.
“We don’t get a salary,” countered Supervisor Guy Gooding.
Sekela reminded board members the chairman is responsible for the overall well-being of the county.
“Think about how much time that would take,” he said.
According to Rymer, he spends 15 to 20 hours a week at the courthouse.
“We have a big business here, $42 million,” Rymer said.
“We’re all running the $42 million business,” Gooding responded.
Insurance benefits also will be phased out for the County Board chairman. The Oconto County Board in January delayed action on a plan to strip the chairman of medical and dental insurance when it was revealed that compensation can be changed only at the board’s annual meeting, scheduled Oct. 29.
Rymer was compensated $38,147 for 2014, including $21,064 in fringe benefits.
Rymer told supervisors he is researching Medicare options and plans to stop accepting health and dental insurance benefits by Aug. 1. He estimated it will save the county $13,000 from August to April 2016, when his term as board chairman expires.
Supervisor Gary Frank commended Rymer on his willingness to drop the insurance, then added, “Certainly, I could get you signed up today, not in August.”
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