City council approves manager contract
ROGERS CITY — After some debate about paid sick and vacation time the City of Rogers City Council approved an employment agreement to have Joe Hefele become the full-time city manager.
The debate took place during the regular council meeting Tuesday.
“I understand there would be some consternation over certain parts of it. I don’t want to get in a bidding war,” Mayor Thomas Sobeck said. “I would like to give everyone the opportunity to speak their peace. The consensus of council was very positive. That being said I will open up the discussion.”
For three years Hefele has split his time as the city manager of Onaway and Rogers City.Last month he discussed his intention to become the full-time city manager in Rogers City.
The manager’s report discusses the details of the employment agreement which include a $70,000 a year salary and eight weeks of sick time. The report also states the holiday pay/health insurance is the same as union contracts.
“My existing contract with Rogers City has the city contributing 20 percent of my pay to 401(k),” the report states. “This contract calls for less than that.”
Council member Scott McLennan said he supported the contract and made the motion to accept the agreement.
Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Nowak and Council Member Ken Bielas said they disagreed with parts of the contract. Bielas said he thought the benefits package was too high, Nowak agreed.
“I think it’s too much personal time and sick leave. I would vote no on this just because of those personal and sick leave. Nothing against you Joe,” Nowak said.
McLennan said the salary package is comparable to other cities of Rogers City size.
“It doesn’t matter what other cities pay,” Nowak said.
McLennan said he “respectfully disagreed.”
Nowak said it wasn’t the salary he had an issue with, it was the sick and vacation time.
Sobeck said he thinks the contract strikes a fair balance for the amount of time Hefele works. Council member Richard Adair agreed, and referred to the bookkeeping duties Hefele has recently started.
The motion passed with a 3-2 vote with Bielas and Nowak voting against the contract.
Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.