November 2, 2006

To: City Council

From: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

Re: Police Department Pay Scale

Over recent weeks, staff has worked to develop a fair, equitable, and competitive pay scale for the soon-to-be staffed Bowie Police Department (BPD). Comparative data was collected from Prince George’s County plus seven Maryland municipalities that have Police Departments. The municipalities are: Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Takoma Park, Frederick, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Laurel.

Discussions were held with Charles Hendricks (Hendricks Associates) about the starting salaries and the ranges of the respective salaries. Mr. Hendricks completed a full study of the pay scale and job descriptions for City employees in 2004. That study was the basis for the current Pay Scale that appears in the FY ’07 Budget document. Also, discussions were held with Mr. Wayne Hobbs, Deputy City Manager, Takoma Park, Maryland. Both agreed that it is “most important to attract good people with salaries.”

It is the goal to have a Police Department that is the best in the area. To achieve that, staff felt that BPD salaries should be above the average of other municipal Police Departments and slightly below salaries for Prince George’s County Police.

There are two attachments to this memo. They are:

1. Attachment 1: Comparative Minimum Salaries [by rank] (pdf)– Prince George’s County & seven municipalities & proposed BPD..

Bowie starting salary for an experienced Police Officer is
6.3% less than the comparable starting salary for Prince George’s
County and 4.3% more than the average of the starting salaries for
the seven municipalities.

2. Attachment 2: Proposed Plan of Compensation for BPD (pdf)– Sworn Personnel.

At the advice of Mr. Hendricks, the positions of Chief and Deputy Chief will be in the Classification and Compensation Plan in the FY ’07 Budget. The Chief’s position was in the Plan approved with the FY ’07 Budget.

The Deputy Chief/Captain will be paid at the X-16 level. Currently there are no City classifications at the X-16 level. Staff agreed with Mr. Hendricks that this was the appropriate placement for this position.

Staff recommends that Council approve the Proposed Plan of Compensation for the Bowie Police Department as an addendum to the approved Plan of Compensation in the FY ’07 Budget. Your approval of Resolution 90-06 is requested.

R-90-06

RESOLUTION
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOWIE, MARYLAND
AUTHORIZING A PAY PLAN FOR POLICE

WHERAS, the City of Bowie has created a Police Department; and

WHERAS, the City has hired a Chief of Police to manage that department; and

WHERAS, it is the City’s goal to have a Police Department that is the best in the area; and

WHERAS, City staff has consulted with Hendricks and Associates -- a compensation specialist who is familiar with the City of Bowie Pay Plan; and

WHERAS, City staff has consulted with other area localities on this matter; and

WHERAS, the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City to pay competitive salaries to members of the Bowie Police Department;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland, that the Council hereby adopts the attached Plan of Compensation for sworn officers of the Bowie Police Department as an addendum to the approved Plan of Compensation in the FY ’07 Budget.

INTRODUCED AND PASSED by the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland at a Regular Meeting on the 6th day of November, 2006.

WITNESS: THE CITY OF BOWIE MARYLAND

______________________
Pamela A. Fleming
City Clerk

________________________
G. Frederick Robinson
Mayor

APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND SUFFICIENCY:

__________________________
Robert H. Levan, City Attorney