CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council met for the last time this year to discuss several ordinances and amend budgets. The meeting was long, covering a wide range of topics of appropriations and funding.
A third reading of the ordinance for 2009 employee compensation was discussed. Due to the increase in the cost of living to 5.5 percent, the compensation included a 3.5 percent increase in salary for all employees. Councilwoman Diana Stockmaster made a motion to have wages increase by 2.5 percent, not 3.5 percent as stated in the ordinance, with the exception of the mayor — whose salary is frozen by the Ohio Revised Code — and one employee who came in at top pay at the beginning of the year.
“Knowing the financial difficulties of the village, and a lot people aren’t getting wages at all, I feel like 2.5 percent is fair also,” Stockmaster said.
The issue was discussed in much detail.
“If it is going to be across the board, then it should be that way for everyone,” said Village Administrator Phil Lohmeyer.
Councilwoman Aimee Humphrey asked about an evaluation system to determine compensation.
“I think the evaluation system could have worked, but we ran into problems,” said Terri James, village clerk.
The council, she explained, decided after encountering the many problems with the evaluation system to create wages across the board.
Village Solicitor Kyle Stroh suggested “the finance committee approves a 3.5 percent budget to approve pay increase, council approves a range for each position, and then give our village administrator, which he was hired to do, the ability to supervise the pay raise.”
The motioned was seconded, but failed to pass. Voting on the motion ended in a tie, which was broken by Mayor George Shaw.
“This is the first tie since I’ve been here,” said James.
A second motion was brought to the floor, asking to keep the 3.5 percent increase in wages across the board for all employees; this motion was approved by council.
A third reading for 2009 appropriations was approved by council. An ordinance to contract with Walter Drane for annual codification supplement was approved, as well as a Wildflower Drive waterline extension ordinance. Dates were set for the 2009 council meetings.
Stockmaster brought up a major concern for the village, asking Lohmeyer if the village was prepared with salt for this year’s winter weather.
Lohmeyer said the village is good for salt.
“Several months ago Morton Salt sent us a contract and the price was a little higher, but we went ahead and signed it, sent it in and we are gauranteed to get as much salt as we did last year,” he said. “It is supposed to be a long winter, and last year we used twice as much salt as the year before, so we are figuring on using at least as much as we did last year.”
Lohmeyer doesn’t expect the village to run out of salt this year, but wants to be prepared.
“This year all over the state there is a problem getting salt ... and there are several counties throughout the state that will not be getting salt this year,” he said.
A resolution to name Lohmeyer FEMA project representative was approved by council.
“The big storm that happened here, we’ve applied to have some of our cost back from the expenses from FEMA, and we have been awarded that,” said Lohmeyer.
Knox County Sheriff David Barber spoke to council about the renewal of a three-year contract with the village for law enforcement coverage. He said the contract between the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Sheriff’s Union includes a three-year contract with the deputies, with a 3 percent increase in wages each year.
Since the village contracts for deputies with the KCSO, this wage increase will affect Centerburg’s contracted amount. Another financial concern voiced by Barber was that Columbus Day was changed to an official holiday.
“So that will affect the holiday time issue, if someone would have to work that holiday,” said Barber.
Stockmaster asked about if a deputy takes time off and during that time off there is no coverage for the village, would the village still have to pay. After discussion, it was determined that wording should be included in the contract so the village won’t be charged. Barber said he was more than happy to work with the village on this issue.
