Dayton approves wages for officials
Town of Dayton elected officials can now receive an hourly wage when they serve as town employees.
That proposal was approved during the town's April 10 annual meeting.
"Unless there's a tornado or storms like we had last year, I wouldn't expect that we'd have any time," Town Chairman Chris Klein told the approximately dozen residents who attended the meeting.
The elected officials will be paid $15 per hour, plus expenses, when they are acting as town employees.
Wisconsin State Statutes allow elected officers - other than a town clerk or treasurer - who serve as town employees to be paid an hourly wage for serving as a town employee, not exceeding a total of $5,000 each year.
Statutes also allow for elected town clerks and treasurers to be paid an hourly wage when they serve as town employees, not exceeding a total of $15,000 per year.
Dayton's discussion was about setting an hourly wage for its chairman and supervisors when they are serving as town employees.
Several times last year, Klein and supervisors Bruce Golding and Glen Newsome helped clear roads and cut trees following storm damage in Dayton. They used their personal equipment.
"But, we don't have to take it, correct?" Golding asked Klein in regard to being paid an hourly wage when serving as a town employee.
Klein said he would not have to.
"I don't expect that we would get to that ($5,000) amount," the town chairman said.
Klein explained that the setting of an hourly wage for such circumstances is something that has to be done at an annual meeting of the town.
"Before, town officials (in Dayton) didn't get paid at all (in such circumstances) or volunteered," he said.
Several Dayton residents expressed concerns that elected officials could use the statute to do work that others are hired by the town to do, such as to mow lawn.
Klein responded that guidelines can be established.
Town Clerk Judy Suhs said that during her tenure, the people holding the chairman and supervisor positions have donated a lot of time when there have been emergency situations and that they would only use this in such situations.
"Last year, I donated a lot of time and equipment," Golding said. "It would be nice to get something for using our equipment."
Dayton resident Bob Ellis said that Klein, Golding and Newsome acted appropriately after last year's storms.
"I see no reason why people who spent extra hours should not be compensated," he said.
His wife Kay agreed, saying, "I think it's a great idea. They have over-extended themselves. It would be used only in emergency situations."
During the town's annual meeting, there was also a vote to set the date for the annual meeting to the third Tuesday in April, beginning in 2013, to comply with an amendment to state statutes that requires annual town meetings to now be held on the third Tuesday of April.
That proposal was approved during the town's April 10 annual meeting.
"Unless there's a tornado or storms like we had last year, I wouldn't expect that we'd have any time," Town Chairman Chris Klein told the approximately dozen residents who attended the meeting.
The elected officials will be paid $15 per hour, plus expenses, when they are acting as town employees.
Wisconsin State Statutes allow elected officers - other than a town clerk or treasurer - who serve as town employees to be paid an hourly wage for serving as a town employee, not exceeding a total of $5,000 each year.
Statutes also allow for elected town clerks and treasurers to be paid an hourly wage when they serve as town employees, not exceeding a total of $15,000 per year.
Dayton's discussion was about setting an hourly wage for its chairman and supervisors when they are serving as town employees.
Several times last year, Klein and supervisors Bruce Golding and Glen Newsome helped clear roads and cut trees following storm damage in Dayton. They used their personal equipment.
"But, we don't have to take it, correct?" Golding asked Klein in regard to being paid an hourly wage when serving as a town employee.
Klein said he would not have to.
"I don't expect that we would get to that ($5,000) amount," the town chairman said.
Klein explained that the setting of an hourly wage for such circumstances is something that has to be done at an annual meeting of the town.
"Before, town officials (in Dayton) didn't get paid at all (in such circumstances) or volunteered," he said.
Several Dayton residents expressed concerns that elected officials could use the statute to do work that others are hired by the town to do, such as to mow lawn.
Klein responded that guidelines can be established.
Town Clerk Judy Suhs said that during her tenure, the people holding the chairman and supervisor positions have donated a lot of time when there have been emergency situations and that they would only use this in such situations.
"Last year, I donated a lot of time and equipment," Golding said. "It would be nice to get something for using our equipment."
Dayton resident Bob Ellis said that Klein, Golding and Newsome acted appropriately after last year's storms.
"I see no reason why people who spent extra hours should not be compensated," he said.
His wife Kay agreed, saying, "I think it's a great idea. They have over-extended themselves. It would be used only in emergency situations."
During the town's annual meeting, there was also a vote to set the date for the annual meeting to the third Tuesday in April, beginning in 2013, to comply with an amendment to state statutes that requires annual town meetings to now be held on the third Tuesday of April.
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4 Comments for "Dayton approves wages for officials
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Dayton is trying to save money - scrimping like a curmudgeon - but one of these days it's going to find itself on the wrong end of a $25MIL lawsuit, because an "official town employee" caused a fatal car crash.
They stopped hiring qualified road crews several years ago and patted themselves on the back for saving money (then spent the money on other boondoggles); but there's a reason why road crews have flashing lights, flags, heavy trucks, and commercial tree equipment.
Golding cutting up trees in the middle of the road may bring him personal satisfaction, [b]but one day it's going to get somebody killed because he doesn't have the proper safety equipment.[/b]
Essentially, this new ruling also allows employees to sign in and sign out without supervision, which will eventually lead to falsified time sheets - if not from these employees, then one 5 years from now. As it is, virtually nobody works in the town hall - they all work, unsupervised, in their own homes; which is another example of poor management.
[quote]Klein responded that guidelines can be established.[/quote]
Can be, but they won't be.
[quote] "Before, town officials (in Dayton) didn't get paid at all (in such circumstances) or volunteered," he said.[/quote]
And before that, the town actually hired staff or contracted with other agencies to do this work. So, the town officials have "fired" qualified workers and hired themselves.
Wouldn't it be better to hire - let's say, unemployed residents, or residents who are having trouble paying their property taxes - to do this work?
The idea of awarding wages to themselves should be setting off alarms for Dayton tax payers - I hope it is.
lastpercentile Apr 25, 2012 1:09 PM
When he cuts off his own foot, who pays the medical bills? Does he get workman's comp? Does he sue the township for all the bills and disability?
If you run into his personal vehicle (because it has no emergency lights, and there's a huge storm going through), who is responsible? Who pays your bills?
Is it negligence if he parks his personal vehicle in a dangerous position and somebody runs into it?
Is it negligence if - as a town wage employee - he parks his personal vehicle in a dangerous position and somebody runs into it?
If he happens to be standing on your property as a "volunteer" - and cuts his foot off because he stumbled over your fence - can he sue you?
And what kind of legal advice are they getting - why isn't the township attorney warning the board about these HUGE liabilities?
One of these days, Dayton officials could learn just how expensive it is to [u]NOT[/u] hire professional crews - and the money won't come out of their pockets, it will come out of every Dayton taxpayer's pocket.
If you think your property taxes are high now, just wait until the town has a $25MIL court settlement to pay off.
By then, it will be too late to answer these questions. And too late to vote in a competent township board.
lastpercentile Apr 25, 2012 2:23 PM
JustBecause Apr 26, 2012 7:00 AM
lastpercentile Apr 26, 2012 7:15 AM