By Ted Schnell • BocaJump | Friday, May 25, 2012

Despite one member’s concerns that the results of an employee pay study could create serious morale problems, the Elgin City Council agreed this week to purse the study at a cost of between $32,000 and $40,000.

Councilman John Prigge questioned whether the city should pursue the study, saying that after four consecutive years of layoffs, the city is in a poor position to take a risk on a study that might recommend pay increases, or pay cuts.

“What are you prepared to do when the results of this study comes back?” Prigge asked City Manager Sean Stegall.

Stegall said that was a question he could not answer, but insisted the pay study is needed. The information from the study, he added, would have to be handled with candor. Keeping the results of the study from the employees would create greater problems in terms of morale.

He expressed confidence in the city’s employees.

The study will be performed by The Archer Company, which will look at two components. The first will be the pay analysis, comparing various positions, the pay and the benefits that go with each, and compare them with similar positions in similarly sized communities or companies. The second component would review job descriptions for accuracy and completeness.

The Archer Company’s base bid for the work is $32,530, but the administration is authorized to spend as much as $40,000 in anticipation of additional work. If the additional work is not required, the base bid payment would apply.

The study is expected to get at the heart of a question raised during last year’s budget deliberations when questions were raised about whether city employees are overpaid, underpaid or fairly compensated.