Daleville DPS Director salary set

Updated

In a special called meeting of the Daleville City Council Jan. 24, a salary was set for newly-hired Department of Public Safety Director Willie Powell. About a dozen citizens were also in attendance at the meeting.

As Mayor Jayme Stayton had asked during the previous week’s council meeting, Jan. 17, the council voted to pay Powell $45,000 annually, which is at the bottom of the position's pay scale. The range of pay is $45,000 to $52,000 a year. The decision came after an 18 minute executive session.

City Councilman Marvin Wise stated the council had reviewed the director's qualifications for the position and felt that a $45,000 salary was a good starting point. But, he said, prior to the executive session, that the council had some other things to discuss in terms of letters or comments he was aware of. Content of letters or specific concerns were never discussed. The council had had since the Jan. 17 meeting to review the new director's resume and application.

After the closed session, which was held in the mayor's office down the hall from the council chambers, Councilman Scott Moore said he agreed with Wise's comments prior to the executive session and that $45,000 would be the way to go. A motion to pass the salary for Powell was made and it passed unanimously. Whether other details of a benefit package or whether there is a probationary period or schedule for performance reviews were discussed are not known at this time.

Powell was sworn in the day after his mayoral appointment on Jan. 18, without a set salary. Assistant City Clerk Gabrielle Bernal said Powell would receive back pay for the days he worked before the council set his salary.

In November 2016, City Attorney Henry B. Steagall III said, via email, “The council has certain appointments by statute such as the clerk, city manager and a few others. All other appointments are the responsibility of the mayor in a city the size of Daleville. In this case, the mayor has the appointment but the council has to fund it and agree on the terms of the employment.” 

The council will hold its next regular meeting Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.