Brighton City Council has acted to give the city manager a 6% salary hike.

Council on Thursday voted to finalize a raise for City Manager Nate Geinzer, giving him a base salary of $106,614, retroactive to Oct. 1st. As he does not participate in the city’s pension program, Geinzer receives an additional $15,800 each year and a $6,000 allowance for the use of a car. Geinzer’s total package is now about $128,400 per year. Mayor Shawn Pipoly tells WHMI that Geinzer has been doing a great job for the city, and deserves to be compensated accordingly.

A committee looked at what city and township managers in comparable communities across Southeastern Michigan were receiving in compensation before making the recommendation for the increase. Geinzer has been Brighton’s city manager for three years. He was hired in January of 2016, and began his duties the next month. He replaced Dana Foster, the city's long-time city manager, who left to accept a position with the Corrigan Oil Co.

In addition, a council committee will meet after Geinzer’s performance evaluation each September to review his contract and, if no salary increase is recommended, at the very least he will get a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), if in a budget year in which all other city employees receive a COLA. (TT/JK)