|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
November 30, 2004Pay peeves prosecutorJarema, board clash over money, staffByRecord-Eagle staff writer CHARLEVOIX - Charlevoix County's new prosecutor wants to show potential offenders that crime doesn't pay. Before he takes office in January, though, he wants to show county commissioners his new job doesn't pay enough. Commissioners set John Jarema's salary for 2005 at $63,000 - 26 percent less than outgoing prosecutor Mary Beth Kur's annual pay of $84,700. Jarema defeated Kur in the August Republican primary. "They are doing something unprecedented," Jarema said, adding that five of six county board members openly supported Kur in the election. Jarema said his starting salary will be less than the $63,335 Kur made when she started as prosecutor nine years ago. He pointed to neighboring Emmet County, where chief deputy prosecutor James Linderman won the November general election. Commissioners there reduced Linderman's salary only 9 percent - to $65,000 a year from outgoing Prosecutor Robert Engel's $71,400 salary. "...They're mad because I sued the county," Jarema said, referring to his whistleblower suit against the county and Kur after she fired him as chief deputy prosecutor in 2002. The county settled the suit with Jarema for $50,000 last year. County board chairman Victor Patrick denied animosity or political retribution is behind Jarema's salary. "I don't care who you hire, or where you get hired in, you never start at the top of the pay scale," Patrick said, adding that Jarema's salary is in line with area counties. Commissioners also are considering a proposal to turn the prosecutor's civil case duties over to an outside attorney, Patrick said. "They are effectively making it a part-time position," Jarema said. Commissioners also set salaries for his chief assistant and assistant prosecutors at $50,000 and $40,000. Jarema questioned the move, saying commissioners told him that current chief assistant John Puzzuoli and assistant Brian Seelye could keep the $56,100 and $40,800 they would earn next year, if he retained them. Jarema won't keep Puzzuoli and Seelye's future is uncertain. "They are kind of trying to staff my office," Jarema said of commissioners. Patrick disputed that. Jarema chooses his staff and the county board sets his budget, he said. Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the matter Wednesday at a committee-of-the-whole meeting.
|
|
