A special Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday had one item on the agenda; the naming of seven members to an Elected Officials Compensation Commission (EOCC) for Barry County. The new commission will determine the salaries of elected officials in Barry County; the clerk, prosecutor, sheriff, register of deeds, treasurer, drain commissioner, surveyor and commissioners.
The EOCC’s determination on elected official’s salaries, except judges, would go into effect in the first odd-numbered year after the EOCC’s determination unless a super majority of the county commission votes against it.
Each county commissioner submitted two names to Commission Chair Ben Geiger to consider for the seven seats on the commission. Geiger didn’t offer candidates, Commissioner David Jackson made two sets of suggestions. Geiger gave his recommendations for the final makeup of the EOCC; all passed unanimously.
Approved for one year terms:
* Ms. Teri Enrietti, retired from Delton Kellogg Schools nominated by Commissioner Howard Gibson.
* Steve Buehler, president of Munn Manufacturing, nominated by Commissioner Jon Smelker;
Serving two year terms:
* Kim Dufresne, retired Michigan Forest Fire Officers, nominated by Commissioner Vivian Conner
* Chris Lapins, owner of Beauland, Inc. nominated by Jackson.
Set for three year terms:
* Tom Enslen, superintendent, Thornapple Kellogg Schools, nominated by Commissioner Dan Parker.
* Karen Zuver, field agronomist at DuPont Pioneer, nominated by Commissioner Heather Wing.
Approved for a four year term:
* Brenda Schild, human resource generalist at
Spectrum Health Pennock, nominated by Jackson.
Questions and answers from discussion:
(Q) Can commissioners vote up or down on any raises?
(A) No, the commissioners can only vote no by a super majority to stop a recommendation. If a super majority voted no, the salary in place would stay as it is.
(Q) If an increase is turned down, could EOCC come back with another offer?
(A) They could.
(Q) Can the county commissioners vote to disband the EOCC?
(A) Yes, they can. That happened to an earlier commission around 2003.
(Q) Are the EOCC meetings open to the public?
(A) Yes. It is subject to the Open Meetings Act.
(Q) Will Geiger meet with the EOCC for any conversations on what commissioners would like to see?
(A) Geiger: “I do feel I need to explain the wage study…the history of pay…I don’t know if I’ll make a recommendation.”
(Q) Where will the EOCC get all the information they will need to make a decision?
(A) Administrator Michael Brown and Deputy Administrator Luella Dennison will provide all the facts and figures they will need.
Gibson objected to what he saw as another level of government; saying: “They should pay us like other employees.”
According to an explanation of the statute by a Michigan State University Extension article on county government:
“The statute requires the compensation commission to meet in even-numbered years for not more than 15 “session” days. The pay board must complete its work within 45 days of its first session. A majority of the members serving must approve any action. A few other limitations govern the action of a county compensation commission. It can raise or lower salaries as it considers appropriate. An action to reduce the compensation of an elected official during the term of office is generally prohibited.
No one on the EOCC can be a member or employee of the legislative, judicial or executive branch of any level of government, or a member of that person’s immediate family.
