Finance committee refers classification and compensation plan to full council for approval

The North Adams Finance Committee reviewed a proposed classification and compensation plan and voted to refer the measure to the full City Council for approval and required publication.

The proposed plan applies a 3% overall compensation increase for most non‑union staff and a 3.5% adjustment for police and fire contractual increases. Staff described a number of grade changes — including the chief administrative officer reclassified as administrative officer/chief of staff and procurement officer adjusted to a higher grade — and examples where new hires may be placed at higher steps to attract experienced candidates.

Committee members probed the plan’s mechanics — including how step increases are applied by anniversary date rather than the fiscal year, how the budget assumes the highest anticipated pay point within a fiscal year, and why some positions have large step differentials. The administration said the city uses the Collins Center benchmark data as a guide and that a further compensation study and plan modernization remain priorities when staffing permits.

After discussion the committee chair moved to refer the classification and compensation plan to the full council for approval and publishing; the motion was seconded and the committee indicated support. The meeting record shows the motion was made and seconded but does not include a detailed roll‑call vote in the transcript.

The referral means the full council will consider the package and publish the plan as required by law; no final salary adjustments or budget appropriations were adopted at the finance committee meeting.