Alpena city manager granted $8K raise
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ALPENA -- Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski received a raise and other upgrades to her contract following an Alpena Municipal Council vote on Monday.
After reviewing Smolinski's performance, the council unanimously agreed to the amendment.
Smolinski's annual salary saw an $8,406 increase, from the original $104,094 a year to a new salary of $112,500 per year.
Mayor Matt Waligora said one of the reasons for the raise was because of how long Smolinski has stayed in the position.
"She's been here for four years, and so we increased her salary," Waligora said. "She got really good, high marks on the evaluation, and everybody's pretty happy with her performance. Things are going really well."
Smolinski's employment agreement also saw a change to her termination clause, which increases her severance package if she's terminated without cause.
The original clause gave Smolinski three months' salary and benefits after termination without cause, while the updated version would give her six months' salary and benefits.
Waligora said Smolinski's performance is good, but, if there are any bumps down the road, the severance package would help smooth her transition into a new job.
"The reason why we open that up and give her more salary when we let her go is because, A, she didn't necessarily do anything wrong," Waligora said hypothetically. "And, B, it could take her quite some time to find another job.
"There aren't a lot of jobs with her executive responsibilities here in town," he added.
The agreement also changed the number of days Smolinski needs to provide notice of termination if she decides to quit. It went from 30 days to 60 days.
Smolinski said she's feeling good about the approval of the updated agreement.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
The Alpena Municipal Council on Monday also:
∫ postponed the approval of an expansion of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority's boundaries. The postponement came after the council decided it needed further clarifications on whether they can or cannot refund the DDA's 1.98-mill special assessment to residential locations in the expanded district. Council members said further clarifications will come after discussing the situation with auditors, who will give answers in November.
∫ postponed approval of an amended DDA tax incremental financing plan.
∫ conducted a first reading of Ordinance No. 23-498, which would rezone a portion of 350 Pinecrest St. for individual and family services.
∫ approved the mayoral reappointment of Steve Gilmore, Claire Kostelic, and Matthew Wojda to the city Planning Commission for three-year terms expiring Nov. 1, 2026.
∫ approved the council reappointment of Jesse Pattison to the Recreation Advisory Board for a three-year term expiring Nov. 1, 2026.
∫ approved the council reappointment of Alan Guest to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term expiring on Nov. 1, 2026.
∫ approved the council reappointment of Tanner Kostelic and Don LaBarre to the Harbor Advisory Committee for three-year terms expiring Nov. 1, 2026.
∫ approved the mayoral reappointment of LaBarre, Carol Lund, Jessica Luther, Paul Sabourin, and Darlene Wilmont to the Historic District Commission for three-year terms expiring Nov. 1, 2026.
∫ announced Halloween trick-or-treat hours in the city will happen from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
CORRECTION: Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski received an $8,406 a year pay increase, from $104,094 to $112,500 per year. The amount of her raise was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.