SHELBY — Following a closed session at the Shelby Village Council regular meeting Monday, council voted to approve an anticipated step increase of $2500 to Village Administrator Phil Morse’s base salary rate for the pay period beginning August 25.
Council went into closed session for 20 minutes to review the Personnel Committee’s collective assessment of each council member’s personal evaluation of VA Morse’s performance this past year.
Following the closed session, Council member and Personnel Committee Chair Mike Termer moved to approve the $2500 step increase to the village administrator’s base salary.
Regular evaluations and annual step increase opportunities are a part of Morse’s employment contract. He was hired as the new village administrator in August 2024 at a starting salary of $80,000, In February (six months after his hire), he received a $2,500 increase, bringing his base salary to $82,500. With the FY 25/26 budget, all employees received a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) increase to their salaries. Morse’s COLA increased his salary to $84,593. With the step increase approval Monday, as of Aug. 25, 2025, Morse’s new base salary is now $87,093.
Council member Curt Trott seconded Termer’s motion. Voting in the affirmative for approval were council members Steve Crothers, Crystal Heykoop, Samantha Gottschalk and Village President John Sutton. Casting the lone nay vote was council member Dan Zaverl.
In other news, the council shared good news on several fronts. A successful village dump day took place Saturday, Aug. 9 with three dumpsters being filled. “We had a lot of large items,” said Village Clerk Crystal Budde, who worked the event. Councilors speculated that the good turnout could be the result of price hikes at the Oceana County Transfer Station or possibly a response to recent code enforcement.
Also shared were the many positive comments heard in person and on social media about the recent Chainsaw Festival. “This is what we’re aiming for,” said Morse. “We want to be appealing, well-maintained and have stuff to do.”
