WARREN Council clerks say they deserve raises

The two women haven't had a raise since 1999 and say it's unfair.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Darla Neugebauer could understand why she's not been given a raise if she wasn't doing her job.
In fact, for more than a year, she did the jobs of two people. And tucked away vacation hours. And sick time.
Now, city council's clerk says it's not the money she's worried about, but rather that officials and lawmakers have gotten what's due them.
"It's not the dollar amount," Neugebauer said. "It's that, why did everyone else get raises and we didn't?"
"It's not fair."
Deputy Clerk Brenda Smith feels the same, saying she can't understand why they've been passed by.
Councilman is helping: Outgoing Councilman Ron White, D-4th, said he's been fighting to help Neugebauer and Smith because they're professional and trustworthy.
He added that he's disappointed in fellow lawmakers who aren't supporting the effort, because the clerks do a lot of homework and research for council members.
"They help us a great deal," he said. "I'm backing them 100 percent."
White sponsored legislation that was not voted on at the last council meeting, outlining raises for the two.
Because they were looked over for raises in 1997, White said, he was asking for a little more than 4 percent to bring the clerks' salaries up to par with everyone else.
Neugebauer is making $16.92 an hour, and Smith earns $14.21 an hour.
Neither has had a raise since 1999, even though elected officials and employees have received some increases, even during the city's budget crisis, they say.
Law director's advice: Council decided not to vote on the legislation after being advised by Law Director Greg Hicks that Ohio law considers the clerks elected officials who can't have their salaries adjusted in term.
Norma Williams, director of Trumbull County Board of Elections, said she's not talked to Hicks about the issue, but notes the two women are considered appointed, not elected by the people.
Hicks said the people speculating about the issue, including members of the board of elections, aren't lawyers.
He added that a section of law states that within 10 days from the commencement of their term, council members shall "elect a president pro tempore, a clerk and such other employees as are necessary and fix their duties, bonds and compensation."
The law director said he has case law to back up his position.
If Hicks were right that the clerks' salaries couldn't be adjusted in term, Neugebauer and Smith said it should be pointed out that the city hasn't followed that in the past.
"I give legal advice and they can follow it or they can not follow it," Hicks said.
Raises for the clerks should not have been given in-term in the past, Hicks said, explaining he advised council of that at the time.
"There are council members who know [Neugebauer and Smith] deserve a raise," White said.
He added that some think the job could be handled by one person but that he thinks the workload is too big for that.
Smith was laid off from January 2000 to June 2001 during the city's financial crunch.
Neugebauer was able to keep the office functioning during that time, but without taking any vacation or sick time.
She said she took days off right after Smith returned because she was mentally and physically drained.
"I had to get away," she added.
Neugebauer has nearly 900 sick hours saved up and more than 450 vacation hours.
Councilwoman Virginia Bufano, D-1st, said White brought the legislation in at the last minute, giving council no time to discuss it before a vote would have been taken.
She's got no problem with supporting raises for the two if council is convinced the city can afford it, she added.
City employees, with the exception of patrol officers and communications workers, received raises retroactive to Jan. 1 for this year. The matter with patrol officers is in arbitration, and communications workers are negotiating.
davis@vindy.com