Grand Forks City Council committee seeks review of pay plan

A Grand Forks City Council committee recommended on Monday night that the council hire a firm to review the city’s human resource polices and salary plan.

“I think we need to have an independent set of eyes come in and look at it,” said Council President Hal Gershman. “They could validate it or tell us ‘No, that’s not how it should be.’”

A big reason for the review was alluded to at the council’s last meeting on Oct. 15, when council members reiterated their discomfort with the $24,500 raise the mayor gave earlier this year to Pete Haga, the community/government relations officer.

But Council member Doug Christensen said Monday at the Safety/Service Committee that it’s been 10 years since the city adopted the salary plan so it is about due for some tweaking.

Before the city asks for bids from consulting firms, though, he said he wants to be sure the council knows exactly what it wants the firm to examine.

“Until we know what we’re looking for, we can’t hire anyone to look for us,” he said.

The committee suggested council members draft questions about human resource policies and the city salary plan, and bring them to a work session to be scheduled sometime before the next council meeting on Nov. 5.

City employee representatives also will be asked to bring questions and concerns to City Administrator Rick Duquette and Human Resources Director Daryl Hovland.

The council’s biggest area of interest is the salary plan, including the process for raises and promotions.

According to Hovland, city employees are reviewed each year based on market comparisons and their performance. Together these factors determine if an employee will receive a raise.

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