News photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Thursday, the Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health board met for its monthly meeting. Board members voted to amend Sork’s contract.

ALPENA – The Northeast Michigan Mental Health (NeMCMH) board voted to amend its executive director’s contract to close the director’s salary gap and provide the opportunity for a wage increase or decrease.

In December, board members signed NeMCMH Executive Director Nena Sork’s new three-year contract. At that time, the director’s contract had lapsed in October and members had to approve her contract before the grace period ended.

In February, Jennifer Graham, NeMCMH board member from Alpena County, said that she wished she had more time to review the contract before approving it.

“I didn’t know that your contract expired in October, but I also haven’t been here beyond three years,” Graham said. “This was the first review of her contract that I’ve ever seen. So for me, I would have liked to have seen that prior.”

Graham explained that in Michigan, executive directors in Sork’s position are projected to see a 14% increase in salary in the next five years. Per the contract that board members approved in December, Sork’s salary would only increase by 8%.

In December, Sork wished for her salary to be increased incrementally over the lifespan of her contract. In the original contract, this would include a 5% adjustment in the first year and a 3% adjustment in the second year. She would also receive cost-of-living-adjustments as staff receive them.

“She was already significantly below her position, with all the data that we have here,” Graham added at the February meeting. “She’s going to remain below that and she’s not going to catch up with people.”

Sork told board members that as of February, she currently was receiving 17% less than a CMH director with NeMCMH’s budget, twice as many employees, and more years of experience.

Sork explained that it would be difficult to close the 17% gap swiftly as wages are less competitive in the private health sector.

“I couldn’t raise somebody 17% … I can’t say ‘Oh, I got to pay you that to keep you.’ I can’t compete with the private sector,” she said. “I’ll go to my salary survey and make sure that they’re in that average range … that’s the best that I can do.”

On Thursday, board members opened the contract to amend and add an economic opener clause. This clause specifically gives either party the opportunity to change salary but also to change health benefits, retirement, et cetera.

“What the amendment says … the first couple of years or so you need to try to make up that gap between other CMHs,” Sork explained. “And the third year there was nothing planned in the contract … this just gives the opportunity.”

Sork said that she trusts the board’s judgment as it relates to her salary.

“I’m not even concerned about it,” she said.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.