Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM STANKARD
Wakefield — The Wakefield City Council discussed additional stipulations of potential City Manager Jason Laumann’s contract Thursday afternoon.
At an April 1 meeting, the council agreed to offer Laumann a salary of $55,000 for one year.
After one year, the council also agreed to raise his salary to $60,000 and include the cost of living in his contract, both pending an evaluation of his performance.
Laumann wasn’t able to make the meeting, but had expressed concern that his position is tentative, based on the council’s 3-2 vote at a March 18 meeting to offer him a contract for the city manager position.
Council members John Granato and Bob Blaskowski voted “no.” Granato said he voted against the contract itself, not Laumann as a person. Blaskowski said a city manager should possess budgetary and work management skills.
In Laumann’s defense, Mayor Joe DelFavero said the potential city manager possesses many skills that could make him successful.
During Thursday’s meeting, the council discussed Laumann’s additionally proposed contract stipulations that “should have been discussed at April 1 meeting.”
Laumann’s stipulations included moving expenses, relocation expenses, a technology allowance, internet costs and a laptop.
Following a short discussion, Blaskowski made a motion to allocate moving costs into Laumann’s contract. The council approved to limit the moving expense at $2,000 and to reimburse him.
Granato and Blaskowski both said they don’t understand why the other stipulations should be included in the contract.
“Maybe there’s a legitimate reason,” Granato said.
Granato said the other stipulations are negotiable and shouldn’t be included in Laumann’s contract.
Once Laumann accepts the contract, the council agreed to negotiate the other stipulations and suggested they should come out the city manager’s budget.
