By L. Parsons Last week, the Winslow City Council was presented with a compensation and classification study by an independent group that showed the City of Winslow as an employer was not consistent in their employee compensation with other comparable municipalities. Matt Weatherly Public Sector Personnel Consultants was on hand to make the presentation after which the council voted unanimously to approve an updated salary plan that aims to bring the City into market competitive standing. Weatherly said, “Your city engaged us to conduct this study this year but because of the pandemic it was set back. What we found was the City of Winslow has about 65 different job titles. We reviewed those job descriptions to ensure that the duties that they perform are accurately reflected on their job descriptions and those matched the salary survey.” The study reflected the salaries held by similar jobs in similar cities and towns compared to those in Winslow. Weatherly continued, “We need to get back into the market in order to recruit. On average, for all jobs at the City, we are about 18% below the market. The midpoint in pay for police officers are almost 12% off the market midpoint. According to the study, patrol officers in Flagstaff, Show Low and Camp Verde, among others, are all compensated higher than patrol officers in Winslow. The independent study did include a plan to increase the pay range for all city jobs to, “Bring Winslow within plus or minus five percent of the market,” Weatherly said. Winslow City Manager John Barkley added, “This study has been a year in the making and it’s an indication of the market as it’s already a year old. If we don’t work diligently and move quickly, we will head in the wrong direction again. We are in solid financial standing and at a point where we can bring ourselves up to market and not break the budget.” The plan approval by the council does not guarantee pay rate increases for employees, it accepts the plan. Further adjustment of pay will be discussed in future budget-related meetings. During the vote to approve the plan, Mayor Birdie Cano, Vice Mayor Samantha Crisp and Councilman Jim Maclean all declared conflicts of interest as they pertained to certain positions in the city held by their relatives. Cano recused herself from voting on plan approval for pay increase for police lieutenant, Crisp for office manager and public safety dispatcher and Maclean for city librarian. In other business, the council: * Approved a cooperative purchasing agreement with Musco Lighting in the amount of $119,000 for the purchase and installation of field lighting at Philly’s Field in Southside. * Approved a memorandum of understanding between the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the Winslow Police Department. The intent of the joint effort is to investigate and apprehend local, state, tribal, territorial and federal fugitives therefore improving public safety and reducing violent crime. * Approved a memorandum of agreement between the Winslow Fire Department and the Navajo County Public Health Services District to combat the epidemic of prescription drug misuse and abuse in Navajo County. The county will provide WFD with training and education including naloxone administration and public awareness materials concentrating on opioid use and prevention. * Heard a request for funding from Dee Rodriguez regarding the September 11 Remembrance Park and Ceremony. Rodriguez asked the council for monetary support for flowers, flag poles and commemorative plaques. Mayor Cano instructed city staff to consult the finance director and remaining budget. * Heard a quarterly report from the city librarian Brandee Leary. In her report, Leary reminded citizens of the library’s upcoming summer reading program. Information and applications are available at the library, located at 420 W. Gilmore St. Masks are required to enter the library. * Made a proclamation recognizing National Service Recognition Day. Mayor Cano presented the proclamation virtually to senior volunteers from AmeriCorp. The next regular meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, at the Hubbell Building, located at 523 W. Second Street.
