Shawano’s mayor and city attorney will receive 3 percent salary increases in each of the next two years, effective after the spring election when both those terms expire.
The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday approved the increases, along with a $10 increase for the three aldermanic seats that are also up for election in April.
By law, the rates had to be set before candidates start circulating nomination papers for those seats next month.
The council, however, declined to grant City Attorney Tim Schmid’s request for an increase in prosecution fees. The fees cover Schmid’s time handling municipal and circuit court cases for the city and are in addition to his part-time salary.
The council voted to keep the city attorney’s prosecution rate at $150 an hour. Schmid had asked the city to consider going to $180 an hour.
There was no discussion of Schmid’s request at Wednesday’s council meeting, but the Finance Committee discussed it on Monday before voting unanimously to recommend keeping the rate as is.
Schmid earns a salary of $34,602, which City Administrator Brian Knapp said Monday covers having the city attorney available whenever he is needed to advise the mayor, administration and other departments, as well as to draft ordinances.
“We pay him for being at the end of the phone when we call,” Knapp said.
As approved by the Common Council, that salary will increase to $35,640 as of May 1 of next year and to $36,709 effective May 1, 2015.
But the sticker shock of the salary combined with prosecution costs caused some Finance Committee members Monday to question whether the city should move to contracted services or a full-time attorney from the current elected position.
“We should look into that,” Alderman Woody Davis said.
Alderman Sandy Steinke said it would be too late to look at other options this year, given that nomination papers will start circulating soon. However, she said, it is something that should be considered in the future.
“It would be pertinent to look into what it would cost us to do a full-time position,” she said.
According to comments at the Finance Committee meeting, Schmid totaled $23,760 in prosecution costs on top of his salary last year for a total of $58,362. There were also fees for professional services, but that figure was not immediately available.
Knapp said a survey of other municipalities showed a wide variety of arrangements with their city attorneys, ranging from $135 an hour to a full-time position at $87,000 plus benefits.
Steinke said it was something the city should consider with an eye on having any changes in place before nomination papers are circulated again in December 2015.
Schmid has been Shawano’s city attorney for more than 30 years, according to Finance Committee members.
Steinke also said the city should consider whether Shawano is big enough to have a full-time mayor.
Mayor Lorna Marquardt, who attended the Finance Committee meeting, said the city does not need a full-time person because it has a city administrator and assistant city administrator.
The council vote Wednesday increases the mayor’s part-time salary from $13,133 to $13,527, effective May 1, 2014, and to $13,933, effective May 1, 2015.
Salaries will increase for aldermen elected in April to $250 effective May 1, 2014, and to $260 effective May, 1, 2015.
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