The second reading of a salary ordinance that would give a pair of political appointees pay raises for two newly consolidated positions at City Hall brought about a lot of discussion Tuesday night before the Columbus City Council.

New Mayor Jim Lienhoop has combined the functions of city engineer with oversight of the city garage in a director of engineering and public works position. Dave Hayward was appointed to that position. The Mayor also combined the functions of the director of administration with the community development director. Mary Ferdon was appointed to that position. Lienhoop also outsourced city attorney duties from an in-house position that was created by former Mayor Kristen Brown and approved by the City Council back in 2011. The changes also reduced headcount at City Hall.

There were complaints from audience members, including Brown, about a perceived lack of transparency in the posting of the council’s Jan. 4 meeting, where the proposal was first discussed, then passed on first reading. Brown read from a letter that she asked to be read at the council’s first meeting of the year, but wasn’t. In it, she questioned the wisdom of granting pay increases to Ferdon and Hayward. Brown said that they smacked of “political patronage.” She also questioned whether the pair were the most qualified for their positions. Ferdon worked under Brown in the first year of her administration before leaving. Hayward also served as City Engineer under Brown before he retired.

Several residents, who supported Brown in her reelection bid last year, also expressed their dissatisfaction with the process. Some noted that the local newspaper gave the incorrect date for the meeting, which was held on a Monday night rather than the regular Tuesday. They also expressed concern that the agenda for the meeting was not in its usual place on the city website. Those who were able to locate the agenda say that it was changed right before the meeting. City Attorney Alan Whitted explained that the city did not violate any laws in not having the agenda in its usual place on the website. He explained that the law only states that an agenda must be posted near the door of the meeting place before a meeting. With that, council members, as well as Clerk Treasurer Luann Welmer indicated that the agenda was in place on the website. They also indicated that the information will continue to be available as it has in the past. Some council members also opined that the change in administration, as well as a new calendar year, led to the confusion. Tuesday’s agenda was readily available on the homepage of the city website that afternoon.

The salary ordinance was ultimately approved on a vote of five-to-two. New At-Large City Councilperson Laurie Booher changed her vote from “yes” at the first reading to “no” at the second. Booher says that even though she is supportive of Mayor Lienhoop’s reorganization efforts and the salary ordinance as presented, she said that she had to listen to the members of the public who expressed concern that the issue needed more discussion. District 4 Councilman Frank Miller was the other “no” vote. While he approves of the idea of city employees being adequately compensated, Miller says he would rather have a complete review of all positions instead of taking care of them in a piece-meal fashion.

Ferdon mentioned during both council meetings this year that a comprehensive review of all city positions, duties, job descriptions and salaries would take place in the future.