Lamar Council Will Discuss Merit Compensation for City Employees

Various forms of merit compensation for Lamar City employees will highlight the Lamar City Council work session set for this evening, February 27. City Administrator Bill Pfeilsticker will ask council members for guidance regarding compensation for city employees who have completed education or training incentive programs. The city has no written incentive program, but it has been generally acknowledged that former administrator Ron Stock had proposed an education and training incentive program. Several employees have attained certificates and college degrees, apparently based on that assumption. Several employees who have completed certificates have received pay increases and several more will received their bachelors degrees. The council will discuss if the city should continue the compensation practice without a plan approved by the council. The work session will begin at 6pm. ARPA General Manager, Rick Rigel is also slated to provide an update on the status of the Repowering Project to the council. He addressed the Lamar Utilities Board on the matter at their last meeting held February 14.

The regular meeting will cover a proclamation celebrating the 100th year of the Girl Scouts, an appointment to the Library Board and to the Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to be made; the council will consider the purchase of a smaller replacement vehicle for the library bookmobile; discuss city contributions to the 2012 state High School Rodeo; discuss a resolution from the council in support of funding to aid the Southwest Chief Coalition which seeks to maintain an Amtrak route through southeastern Colorado, and the council will hold an executive session to discuss potential legal action against the City of Lamar.

by Russ Baldwin