On their facebook pages they posted comments concerning their votes. Note the similarity in the wording.
Constance: - The second main item on the agenda was voting on the City Manager's contract. Prior to last night's vote, the City Manager's salary was $50,000 lower than the lowest of comparable cities. I have been pleased with Shawnee's continued history of efficiency in management, especially compared with other neighboring cities. For example, Shawnee's staff to resident ratio is 1:205 compared with Lenexa at 1:127. The efficiency and focus on finding ways to save the city money, whether it be the streetlight LED conversion and purchase, or the Facility Conservation Improvement Plan, have continued to create savings opportunities.
Having quality and fairly compensated staff is important to keep our city running smoothly, so we can provide important services to our residents. I voted in support of the contract and it passed 5-4.
Chalfie: - Secondly, we approved a pay increase for our City Manager in order to bring this salary closer in line with the same job in neighboring cities (taking into account years of service). One of the biggest factors leading me to support this market increase was the efficiency in what Shawnee provides to residents with the number of full-time city staff that our City Manager oversees. As a comparison, Lenexa has one staff for every 128 people and Shawnee has 1 staff for every 205 people. This level of efficiency can only be managed by a strong leader. During this time of uncertainty, I believe it is more important than ever to value the position at the top of our organization as this person makes many day to day decisions that can affect how we come through this as a city.
Why do I say that they grossly mislead their constituents? Here goes. They both use the ratios of staff to residents, showing that Shawnee has fewer staff per resident population. So now let's dissect their comments.
Yes, Shawnee has less staff per resident population. But, Lenexa also has staff for areas that Shawnee contracts out, like facilities maintenance, janitorial services, even mowing. Why don't they mention that? What about the daytime population in Lenexa? Lenexa has substantially more large businesses, industrial parks, office parks, etc. Their commercial tax base is almost double that of Shawnee's. Why don't they mention that? That is one of the reasons why they have more police, firefighters/stations and other city facilities. And guess what else they also have? A higher mill levy. Their citizens and businesses are paying for those needed services.
These ratios that Constance & Chalfie mention have been around since Gonzales was city manager and she too hid the true facts. What Constance & Chalfie are doing is trying to compare apples to oranges.
They also want to compare Mr. Sunderman's compensation to that of individuals in neighboring cities. The Shawnee Mission Post just wrote about the vote and showed those figures for the neighboring cities. You can read the article and see the numbers by clicking here
Now, let's look at those neighboring individuals:
Overland Park - Bill Ebel - City manager in OP since 2011 and prior to that was a department director. In reality he has been in government service since 1975 when he entered the USMA at West Point and graduated in '79. Translation: he has been in government service for longer than Sunderman has been on this earth.
Olathe - J. Michael Wilkes - Has been City Manager since 1999 and started in government service in 1984. Whoops, that means he has been in government service since Sunderman was a year old and still getting his nappies changed.
Lenexa - Two people were mentioned. Current City Manager Beccy Yucham who has 20 years with the city and prior to that was Ass't. Gen. Counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities. The previous City Manager Eric Wade, who retired after 15 years with Lenexa and before that he was with Jo Co government, Merriam, Blue Springs and KC MO. Another individual who has more government service than Sunderman has time on this earth
To compare Sunderman to these folks is outrageous. He's still a puppy in training and not ready to be compared to the big dogs.
Additionally, a 25% increase (approx. $40K) is, as I stated yesterday, IMHO, an insult to those on the front line of city work. As a percentage of the city budget the dollar number is a dot, but it sends a bad message to the residents of our city who are suffering from the current pandemic situation. That includes the owners of the many small businesses who employ lots of folks that might not be going back to work. Add to that the city, which relies heavily on sales tax revenue will see a decline in that revenue. The five people who voted for that raise created an odor that is worse than the Deffenbaugh landfill, and again I will call them out: Matt Zimmerman (W1), Lisa Larson-Bunnell (W3), Lindsey Constance (W4), Jill Chalfie (W4), and the tie breaking vote by Michelle Distler (Mayor).
Suggestion for Constance and Chalfie. Don't mislead your constituents. And for Chalfie specifically, being a lap dog for a state senator wannabe is going to cause you problems. You will be challenged when you mislead folks. Constance did that during the Community Center referendum (so did Zimmerman and Larson-Bunnell), and now on this issue.
