VIDEO: Hudock, Chiaverotti Discuss Mayor's Status

The status of the current Director of Administration and Finance were discussed at Tuesday night's mayoral forum, which provided yet another contrast between Luke Hudock and Kathy Chiaverotti.

Hudock has maintained in previous releases and again last night that the city is over paying its mayor, and is unprecedented in its costs to maintain one at full time status while also employing a full time administrator.

"The city pays $6.88 per citizen for its executive administration, which is much higher than other similarly-sized cities in Wisconsin," Hudock said.  

A release dated March 10 further outlined the difference for the 13 cities in Wisconsin between 19,000 and 30,000 that pay executive administration salaries that average $5.15 per citizen.  Hudock has also suggested that he is open to looking at making the mayor's position part-time, understanding that the duties of the job may extend beyond what most would define part-time.

Chiaverotti felt that the position should remain at full-time, stating that the demands of the job warrant it, and citizens deserved it.

In addition, the job description of Sharon Mueller, director of administration and finance was debated.  Hudock maintained that the position is equivalent to a city administrator, and in cities where there have been a full time administrator it is often the case that the mayor's position is part-time.

Again, Chiaverotti disagreed, stating that she had met with Mueller to "discuss in detail" her responsibilities, finding that her position differed from other administrators in that "she does not oversee every department in the city, just her own. " Chiaverotti also said that should the city seek an administrator, the salary would probably be about $100,000, not including benefits.

Hudock also stated at various points in the forum that current salaries were too high, and reiterating a point made in earlier releases, that he would lead by example to return a portion of his salary if he were mayor.