A consultant whose salary study justified higher pay scales for most Columbia Association managers will answer questions about the report at tonight's 8 p.m. Columbia Council meeting.
But council leaders say it's unlikely the panel will reconsider the new salary ranges it adopted without public comment. The salaries were recommended by the William M. Mercer Inc. human resources firm. The new scales set higher maximum salaries for 31 of 36 association managers.
"I think a significant majority on the council think accepting the recommendations is a good idea," said council vice chairman, David W. Berson. "We goofed in not explaining it well beforehand."
He added, however, that "the vote's taken and it's implemented. I don't see a reason to withdraw it, but we can always change our mind again."
The council apologized at its Jan.
26 meeting, saying it had neglected to give residents an opportunity to comment on the revised pay scales, which will increase expenses in the nonprofit association's 1995-1996 budget by an estimated $48,000. The new scales take effect with the fiscal 1996 budget May 1.
The council adopted the new scales Jan. 12 -- the same night it released the report publicly and discussed it in open session for the first
time. It suspended its rules to allow a quicker-than-usual vote.
To redeem itself, the council, which is the nonprofit association's board of directors, plans to present the report in more detail tonight, with a representative from the human resources firm present.
The association imposes an annual fee on Columbia property owners to oversee recreational facilities, community services and parkland.
The consultant's report compared salary ranges of association managers with the pay for similar positions in government, community associations, athletic clubs, nonprofit institutions and private industry.
Council members note that only modest salary increases -- an average of 4 percent -- are planned for next year, even though the new scales allow the potential for larger increases.
The report says many association managers -- from recreational and finance division directors to the Swim Center and Teen Center directors -- are near the top of their pay scales, restricting opportunities for "deserving" employees to receive merit pay increases.
Under the revised pay scales, the maximum salary for 21 of 36 management positions will increase by 10 percent or more.
The maximum salaries for the newly adopted top five pay scales -- encompassing 15 positions -- are $114,000, $92,800, $83,600, $74,700 and $67,200.
Most council members say the higher pay scales are justified to ensure the association stays competitive in the labor market, adding the study shows that salaries of most association managers lag behind market averages.