The Livonia City Council agreed to place a motion to deny the Local Officers Compensation Commission's recommendation on its Dec. 17 regular meeting agenda after council members and residents raised budget and benefits concerns.

Deputy Clerk Doris DeMarco told the council the LOCC reviewed the mayor's recommendation and applied it to all elected positions; the commission's minutes from its Nov. 10 meeting were included in council packets, she said. LOCC chair Gwen Long described the commission as a recommending body that reviews comparables and presents numbers for council consideration.

"We go through the information. We go through the comparables, and we look, and we do the math, and we come forward with this," Long said.

Council member Schiel said she opposed increases this year and offered a motion to deny the recommendation, citing tight city finances and earlier budget discussions about hiring and salary freezes. "I am not in support of any increases for our elected officials this year," she said.

President McCullough and council member McCullough voiced support for the denying motion. Council member Donovic defended the commission's process and the recommended adjustments, saying the LOCC found modest increases were warranted to help attract and retain department heads and staff. "These positions do, warrant an increase 3.5% for the first year, 4.5% the next year," he said.

Members and audience speakers also raised questions about fringe benefits tied to elected positions, such as use of city vehicles and gas cards. Audience member Denise Micah urged the finance committee to examine fringe benefits alongside salary recommendations.

City counsel explained the relevant ordinance procedure: council must hold a two-thirds majority denying vote if it seeks to overturn the LOCC recommendation; absent a two-thirds denying vote, the recommended increases take effect without an approving council vote. The council agreed the denying motion would be placed on the regular Dec. 17 agenda where the vote is required to be taken.

What's next: The denying motion will be formally considered at the Dec. 17 regular council meeting, per ordinance requirements. The council did not take the required final vote at the study session.