AUBURN - The council reviewed a copy of a proposal that would cap salaries for department heads, management and their support staff.

The policy change would affect 15 employees, and where applicable, elected officials.

City Manager Mark Palesh said officials last reviewed the management agreement 10 years ago. Some of the proposed provisions were generally accepted by staff, and others were controversial, he said.

The changes would no longer maintain banks of compensatory time, as well as the need for management to account for hours worked in a day.

"I don't believe a person should spend their time looking at every minute," Palesh said.

If the council approves the measure it is up for vote next week, newly hired employees for the upper-level jobs would start at salaries about $9,000 lower than current stipends under the pending wage schedule.

Some councilors disagreed with the use of percentages rather than set amount when it came to raises. Palesh proposed the department heads would receive 75 percent of unions' negotiated raises. He added that this would still allow for the managers to receive more money, but not for their salaries to grow out of control.

An employee making $30,000 would receive $900 from a 3 percent raise. A manager who earned $80,000 would receive $2,400 from the same raise.

Councilor David Dempsey suggested instead of dealing with percentages, the city set flat rates. However, Palesh said that would impact managers even more negatively.

Palesh also suggested capping salaries at $89,000. After workers reach this point, they would no longer be eligible for increases.

"I do believe we need to bring the bottom level up and slow down the increases of the upper ones," Mayor Timothy Lattimore said.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Citizen.