Huntingburg Common Council goes back and forth over pay raises

The Huntingburg Common Council meeting last night ran for about an hour and forty five minutes and in that time the Police Department Administrative Assistant received two raises and a pay cut.

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The Council approved her position change to an administrative assistant upon the request of the Police Chief Ron Drew. She had been filling a clerical position for the Huntingburg Police Department but her increased duties and responsibilities within the department prompted a new position be created and her reassignment into that position.

Mayor Belcher explained that the person filling the position at this time has technical skills that assist the police department in maintaining the computerized services at the department. Due to this he was recommending she be moved into the newly created administrative position.

The mayor explained that the position would have a starting hourly rate of $15.77 per hour beginning January 2012. The pay would increase to $16.73 in 2013 and $17.29 in 2014.

City Attorney Philip Schneider pointed out that the council was voting on pay raises this evening and the prevailing thought was a 2.5% increase would be approved. It was then decided the 2.5% should be added to the new position’s pay rate. A moment of quick recalculation then changed the rates to $16.16, $16.73, and $17.29 respectfully.

The issue passed 4 to 1. Common Council Precinct 1 Glenn Kays (D) was the only nay on the issue.

The council then tackled a pay rate for the meter service technician position that was created in January 2010. The position was created but never assigned a pay rate and the current salary is based on the “extra labor” rate. Utilities Superintendent Tony Traylor explained to the council the proposed rates were $21.56 hourly for 2012 and $21.89 the next year.

The mayor made a motion and asked for a second to which none was made. The mayor explained that the City had been paying these rates already and discussion ensued. The mayor and Traylor then reiterated the reasoning for the pay amendment and the rate. It was also determined that the position would not receive the potential 2.5% pay rate increase.

Traylor again stated that the city was already paying the proposed rate and the amendment would not change that.

Another motion was made by the mayor and died for lack of a second. Traylor then told the council that if a pay rate was not approved tonight the position would get an increase with any approved pay increase that occurs tonight. Schneider reiterated that the council had already approved the position and needed to set a salary schedule.

Kays then asked for the minutes of the meeting that approved the position.

Common Council District 2 Ken Sparrow (D) finally made a motion and it was seconded by the mayor and then put to a vote. All but Common Council-at-Large Marvin Boeglin (D) approved. Boeglin asked for clarification on what they were voting on. Scheider and Sparrow then spoke about the issue. The mayor called for a roll call and the issue was passed unanimously.

The mayor reintroduced the 2.5% pay increase for city employees and elected officials proposed at the Council meeting on Sept. 1 and opened the issue for discussion.

Boeglin stated he didn’t feel a 2.5% increase was necessary in the current economy. “I truthfully think that 2.5% is out of line. People are hurting.”

The mayor then asked for a motion or more discussion.

Kays stated he had spent over 20 hours speaking with citizens in the community. He had found that the average increase was around 1% over the past three years. He explained that this information is what he was basing his decision on.

Schneider explained that the county was only introducing a $700 across the board salary increase and this came out to 2.5% on a $13.50 hourly salary average salary.

Boeglin then asked if there were estimates as to how much less the City could expect next year from income taxes. He was told that the City didn’t have those figures, but the Clerk Treasure Tom Dippel (absent from the meeting) had left a note stating the City could afford the 2.5% increase.

Boeglin raised concerns that the State was cutting funding on programs.

The mayor explained that the City was in good financial standing and compared to the State it was doing fine and they could afford the raise. He attacked the state for wasting money and tax dollars on projects like the 18 inches of blacktop for paving on Chestnut Street.

“We could have did two thirds of the streets in town. Had all new streets in Huntingburg for what we paid on Chestnut.” The mayor said. “You telling me the State has commonsense. Come on. I may run for governor next.”

He went on to explain that compared to the state, Huntingburg and Jasper was doing fine. He continued on an apparent rant that ended with him stating the newest figures on unemployment showed that the people of Dubois County have a good work ethic.

This reinforced his proposal to give the city employees the 2.5% increase.

Boeglin stated he wasn’t saying the employees didn’t work but he was worried about future contingencies.

The mayor stated, “If Christopher Columbus was scared, America would never have been discovered.”

The mayor then told Boeglin that he appeared to just want to hold on to the money.

Boeglin said, “Look at our walking path, you’re talking about what you could have done with that Chestnut money. What could we have done with that walking path money? Stop and think about it. Look at some of these streets in our town, then look at our walking path. Come on.”

Discussion continued with the mayor stating that his administration had saved money and the budget could handle the pay increase.

Common Council Precinct 3 Jean Majors (D) made the motion to give city employees a 2.5% pay increase. It died for lack of a second.

Kays then made a motion for a 1.5% increase for city employees. Discussion and clarification ensued.

The motion was made again and seconded by Common Council Precinct 4 Linda Summers (D). The vote passed 3-2 with Majors and Boeglin voting against it.

The council then had to amend the salary schedule approved for the police department administrative assistant. Her pay dropped to $16.00/hour in 2012, $16.56 in 2013, and $17.12 in 2014.

Not discussed during the meeting were the new PERF raises for city employees. Public Employee Retirement Fund rates increased to 13%; this is a 2% increase. Originally city employees paid 3% into the retirement fund with the City paying the rest, but in the past the City voted to pay the employees 3% in lieu of a pay raise. The City has continued to pay 100% of the PERF since. Here is the Indiana Code.