DAVENPORT, Iowa — More Davenport aldermen expressed support of pay raises for two city employees. It's after talks on Wednesday, March 13 were delayed until today after hearing community concerns.
The pay raises would be for Mallory Merritt, who has been serving as the interim city administrator, and Brian Heyer, who has been serving as the interim city attorney.
As a newly-elected member of the council, 7th ward alderman Mhisho Lynch asked the community for more patience at the Wednesday, April 3 Committee of the Whole meeting.
"We have been put in a very difficult position, obviously, being asked to ratify that we did not originally take part in," Lynch said. "I would like to clarify, from a business standpoint, I do believe that if someone does a job, they should be compensated for that job."
Both employees would get $50,000 lump sum payments in May, which council members said is to compensate for work Merritt and Heyer have done in the interim roles. Merritt would also get an extra $5,000 a month starting in May until a new city administrator is found.
"The best way to move forward is to have someone internal help steer the ship," 6th ward alderman Ben Jobgen said.
Alderman-at-large Kyle Gripp gave an update on the city's search for a new city administrator, saying the city's search committee has selected a consulting firm to help with the search. They plan on having council first look at the recommendation at the Committee of the Meeting on April 17. "Ms. Merritt is absolutely capable, she's doing the job currently," he said.
While the aldermen said it's right to pay for the job already done, some community members suggested the money should go elsewhere.
"We have got lawsuits, we have got homeless people, we have got people struggling," one woman said.
"Let's do it right. Let's make sure they do the job correctly before we give them a reward and a good pat on the back," another woman said.
City council is now set to vote on the pay raises at the council meeting on Wednesday, April 10.
Gripp also said the committee hopes to have a new city administrator in Davenport by Sept. 1.
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