Spokane7
55°
May 4, 2010 in City
Spokane City Council keeping its full-time aide
Shogan trimmed duties, cut pay for position
A couple months after increasing the hours of the assistants for each City Council member, the Spokane City Council on Monday decided to maintain the council’s full-time senior executive assistant.
Jennifer Westfall, who holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Central Michigan University, was selected by City Council President Joe Shogan to fill the position, which was left vacant by the recent departure of longtime council executive Mary Franklin.
Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin was the lone vote against the hire. She said she had no problem with Westfall’s selection, but that given the forecast $10 million deficit in the 2011 budget, the $47,000 salary for the job is too high.
“My vote tonight has nothing to do about her,” McLaughlin said. “That $47,000 is overpaid (compared to) what the private sector is paying by about $10,000.”
But Shogan said he was conscious of the budget troubles and shaved duties from the position to lower the salary that had been paid to Franklin.
It could have been as high as $62,000 to $67,000, Shogan said.
Councilman Richard Rush said the job pays the same as similar assistant jobs in city government.
“We can’t single out an individual and say because you work for us, you have to work for less,” Rush said.
Councilman Bob Apple, who does not have a personal assistant, said the council’s budget is low compared to similar-size cities.
Westfall was hired to be a part-time assistant by former Councilman Mike Allen in February 2009. After he left office in November, she was the assistant for Councilman Jon Snyder. In January, she became the assistant for Councilwoman Amber Waldref.
The council began hiring personal secretaries in 2008. In February, the council increased hours for those assistants from 20 to 28 hours a week. The extra work cost the city an extra $50,000 in pay and pension benefits, which was covered by cutting the pay of the council’s unfilled auditor job and of Franklin and another council employee.
MAC faces angry crowd 
No_Forked_Tongues on May 04 at 2:16 a.m.
I’m glad that the City opened this position up for any and everyone to apply for. You know that compliance with “equal opportunity” laws. Personal servitude has such a nasty name to it, dont you think?
Seems Westfall couldn’t keep a job for some reason with the council after being dumped/passed around by Allen, Snide-r and Waldorf. One would think that when she was rejected by two of the six current council members someone would have taken notice and wondered why?
If she has been doing Franklin’s job for less, then why pay her more to order to fill the water glasses and hide the signup sheets? Glad the council has such progressive thought processes to figure this out AFTER Franklin quietly slipped out the back door.
If the council cant even manage their own “personal” budgets, why should we trust them with the Cities? Someone please put the training wheels back on the Council’s bicycle, it keeps falling over.
reynoldsfamily on May 04 at 7:41 a.m.
Good morning Forked,
Here is what I know, the job did post externally. A close friend of mine applied. She interviewed and unfortunately didn’t get it. She estimates that there were four or five that were interviewed. Westfall lost her councilman in Allen when Allen was beaten by Snyder, so no dumping. Snyder had a person from his campaign that he wanted in that support position. Westfall filled in until starting for Waldrof.
I am not a fan of city council but believe these to be the facts. My friend did some research to figure out why she didn’t get it and this is what she found out. While not happy about it, it made sense to her.
No_Forked_Tongues on May 04 at 6:18 p.m.
appreciate the research reynolds. I wonder why it was not advertised at the beginning of the Council meetings like the Boreds and Com-missions? Probably didnt want to send ol poor George McGrath into defribulation at the podium.
Anyone notice the fact that the Clowncil’s assistant makes more money than the City Clownsils themselves Including Flaming Joe? McGlaughlin was right that a glorified calender marker was getting paid a lot more than the civilian equivelant. Funny if Bob Apple can do his job w/out an assistant why cant any of the other high powered/performing councilpersons do it? Perhaps they dont wear a cape under their skivvies as does Comet Man. “up YOURS and AWAY”.
I still find it funny we are paying Franklins replacement about 3/5s of what she was making. So was she out performing by hiding the sign up sheets or was she getting a bushel of bucks for the same work her replacement is doing for a lot less.
Bee509 on May 05 at 3:22 a.m.
a forecast for a $10 million deficit in the 2011 budget…