After an addition to its Aug. 14 agenda, the Clarkston City Council approved a cost of living increase for Police Chief Ernest Combs.
A 6-1 vote for the 3 percent increase came minutes before the close of the meeting after being added onto the agenda when Councilman Steve Wylie brought it up.
Combs salary should increase nearly $1,300 annually from $42,436.
City workers received the same pay raise within the last month and Wylie said, ‘It’s not very good practice to give everyone in city government a cost of living increase,? and not include the chief.
‘For morale purposes, you would think that would get on your nerves’he (Combs) is professional enough to overlook something like that,? Wylie said.
Wylie said Combs operates the city’s police department on the smallest budget in Oakland County.
Councilwoman Kristy Ottman seconded Wylie’s thoughts about Comb’s ability to keep the department running smoothly with a small budget.
‘The chief works hard for the city, he’s very fiscally responsible. He’s cut costs tremendously and he runs the department on a very small budget and done a good job,? Ottman said.
Ottman said she wishes the city had more resources for Combs to use.
Councilman Scott Meyland explained his nay vote during the meeting.
Meyland said when his budget committee worked with Combs to set the budget for this year, effective July 1, there were things that Combs wanted for the department instead of a raise for himself.
‘That’s something we had agreed to forgo for the time being,? Meyland said.
Combs requested things such as more money for police training, more equipment and raises for other officers.
‘It wasn’t that I was opposed to Chief Combs getting a raise,? Meyland said.
Meyland said he was not in favor of amending the budget so quickly, ‘It didn’t go in line with the way the budget was set up.?
The pay increase was set to be effective immediately.