Human Resources staff and consultant Clemens Nelson and Associates presented proposed changes to the city's nonunion compensation and benefits program at the Oct. 20 Dublin City Council meeting.

Heidi Miller of Clemens Nelson described a multi‑step market study comparing Dublin's pay and benefits with comparable Central Ohio municipalities and recommended several changes intended to keep the city competitive for recruitment and retention. Jennifer Maglietti, HR staff, outlined the proposed policy changes included in ordinance 45‑25, which staff recommended for second reading on Nov. 3.

Key proposed changes outlined by staff include updating salary bands for all nonunion positions, revising the instant (spot) bonus approach from a flat cap (historically up to $1,000) to a percentage‑of‑salary structure capped at $5,000, adding the Friday after Thanksgiving as a city holiday, increasing annual sick leave conversion from 28 to 40 hours per calendar year (with an option to roll into employees' health savings accounts), increasing vacation carryover maximums for long‑tenured employees and renaming tuition reimbursement to “tuition and certification” to allow upfront funding for required certifications.

Maglietti said staff estimates the net first‑year cost of the proposed changes at just under $61,000 for 2026, and that they believe departmental budgets can absorb that amount next year. Councilmembers asked for additional detail on the frequency and past usage of instant bonuses, clarification of accrual rules and a redline of the proposed ordinance for the next packet. Matt Rubino responded to several cost questions and confirmed the personnel budget accounts for the changes as presented.

Councilmembers also asked whether state law requires separate sick leave accounting (a question answered by staff referencing the Ohio Revised Code) and requested counts of employees in each tenure bucket when the item returns for second reading.

Ending: Staff recommended adoption at second reading on Nov. 3 and agreed to provide a clean redline and additional employee‑count details for council before that date.