Thibodaux City Council OKs executive pay hikes

Department head salary adjustments for Thibodaux City employees highlighted the city’s $37.9 million budget, which was approved last Thursday by the Thibodaux Council.

The council made one last attempt to decrease department head salaries last Thursday; However, all but one motion failed.

The city voted 3-2 to keep Information Technology Director Guy Fanguy’s salary at the same pay.

Councilman Gene Richard, who voted against the salary decrease, said, “Salaries are increasing all around us. We have to look at the reputation the city has because of the qualified leaders we have put in place.”

Mayor Charles Caillouet agreed, vetoing the motion less than 24 hours after the meeting.

“I did what I did for one simple reason, we need to have consistency among the pay ranks,” he said. “The IT director’s pay scale would have been the only one not receiving an adjustment. All of this was done for the purpose of retaining and recruiting employees.”

Caillouet said the adjustments, which will cost the city $46,475 next year, are the result of a wage analysis conducted by Georgia-based Slavin Management Consultant.

Sam Trager, a former consultant for the firm, conducted the analysis for Thibodaux. His findings indicate that Thibodaux’s compa-ratio for all employees was 87 percent, making it 13 percent behind the market.

The market, according to the mayor, included 14 surrounding jurisdictions from Terrebonne to Jefferson parishes.

The final tally of salary adjustments went to the following: Recreation Director Ron Alcorn from $48,715 to $57,10; Human Resource Director Donald Clause from $49,500 to $54,393; Harang Auditorium Director Trudy Clement from $49,167 to $51,336; Information Technology Director Guy Fanguy from $50,861 to $55,075; Public Works Director Eric Faucheaux from $67,000 to $70,095; Grants Director Bonnie Lafont from $56,010 to $58,983; Police Chief Craig Melancon from $67,338 to $71,881; Parks Director Kelly Shipp from $44,315 to $54,385; and Marketing Administrator Luci Sposito from $36,736 to $42,865.

Other amendments included a $25,000 allocation to the purchase a city vehicle, adding $1,900 to the legislative budget for repairs and maintenance. Prior to this, Caillouet said the money was not budgeted, if needed the council made supplemental appropriations.