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Published on: 10/7/2008
Last Visited: 7/31/2008
City Manager Tom Lando said the city held "two or three separate public meetings" on the pension increases, and allowed the public to speak on multiple occasions.
"The City Council deliberated over a number of sessions about an appropriate compensation package for employees," he said.
The pension increase was requested by city employees, who aren't represented by a union.Lando also noted staff members took the pension increase instead of a cost-of-living increase in pay.
"In terms of net impact on the city and its budget, it was better for the city and it's what the employees wanted," he said.
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Lando defended Hodges and other council members as "diligent" in their deliberations about the pension increases.
"I have found the mayor to be very good about doing her homework on each issue," Lando said.
The grand jury said it wasn't passing judgment on whether the pension increases should have been enacted, saying its "focus is on the process that preceded the decision."
However, the jury also noted that costs of public employee benefits "have become a significant area of concern in recent years."
Lando said he could say "with certainty" the approval was not a rubber stamp.
"We will provide an official response to the grand jury report, but in my opinion it was well thought-out with the City Council," he said."