Erie County Council wants written proposal from Dahlkemper

Nov. 19--Erie County Executive-elect Kathy Dahlkemper has made a pitch for flexibility -- and in some cases, higher salaries -- when it comes to paying top members of her administration.

Erie County Council wants Dahlkemper to put those requests in writing before the panel gives them further consideration.

Councilman Phil Fatica said Monday that County Council "is all in agreement that we need to see something laid out on this, something tangible on paper about what she wants."

Council made the decision to ask for a written proposal in the wake of its Thursday afternoon meeting with Dahlkemper at the Erie County Courthouse.

During that meeting, Dahlkemper, who takes office in January, asked whether Erie County Council would consider letting her pay salaries to top staffers that, in some cases, are higher than the county currently allows under its personnel rules.

Neither council members nor Dahlkemper, who said she would submit a written plan, offered a timetable.

"Once we have that in our hands, we're willing to consider what she has to say," Fatica said. "But nobody is making any promises."

Dahlkemper also wants to add two new administrative jobs: a director of strategic initiatives, who would handle economic development and other duties, and a director of information technology.

Dahlkemper told County Council members that qualified candidates for those jobs should probably be paid between $80,000 and $100,000 per year.

Dahlkemper made her request relative to the salaries paid to the county's directors of administration, finance, personnel, human services, public health, planning, the county's library system and public safety; Erie County Prison warden; and the director of procurement and facilities.

Those jobs are all expected to pay between $60,000 and $92,000 per year in 2014, according to preliminary budget proposals, excluding benefits like health insurance.

Dahlkemper said Monday that she welcomes the chance to present County Council with her proposal. She said she wants some county salaries increased to attract "the best and the brightest" candidates, and that she should be able to determine what her top administrators earn.

Dahlkemper said she believes her requests would improve efficiency and save the county money in the long run.

"I understand that some people look at this from the surface and say, 'All she's doing is asking for more money,'" Dahlkemper said. "That's not what I'm doing. I'm asking them to allow me to make Erie County's government a model government that's efficient and effective."

According to the county's personnel code, new employees can receive a maximum of 4.2 percent above the position's starting salary. Any pay above that requires County Council's approval.

Dahlkemper said she is still learning about the county's job rules, and that she will pull "supporting facts together" in her proposal.

"I ran on operating an open, transparent and accountable government," Dahlkemper said. "There's no reason for taxpayers not to know what I'm requesting and why I'm requesting it."

KEVIN FLOWERS can be reached at 870-1693 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.

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