MCDONALD Mayor's vote breaks deadlock to forgive debts from '98, '99

Solicitor William M. Roux was rehired for another two years and received a raise.
McDONALD -- Village council took the first step toward forgiving $4,006 in overpayments mistakenly paid in 1998 and 1999 to six employees who opted out of the village health insurance plan.
Council voted 3-3 on first reading of an ordinance to forgive the debt, but Mayor James Border broke the deadlock by casting a yes vote at council's Wednesday-night meeting.
When the six employees opted out of the plan or took single coverage when eligible for more expensive family coverage, a cap was placed on their insurance co-payments.
They were paid a portion of the difference between the co-payment and the actual insurance cost as a reward for reducing the village's costs. They were inadvertently paid too much, however.
Council now wants to account for the money and reconcile village financial records, but the lawmakers disagreed on whether to forgive the debt or seek reimbursement from the employees who were overpaid.
Councilmen Joseph A. Ryan, Thomas B. Hart and Atty. Richard L. Magill voted to pursue reimbursement. Councilman Jim Jones, Thomas Hannon and Michael O'Brien voted to forgive the debt.
In other action, council:
URehired Atty. William M. Roux as village solicitor for another two years, from June 1, 2001, to May 31, 2003, and gave him a pay increase. Roux now earns $24,000. His new wage will be $28,000 this year, and his salary will increase to $29,120 by 2003.
UIncreased the speed limit on Marshall Road from 25 to 35 mph between the village west boundary and New Jersey Avenue.
UAwarded a contract to McCourt Construction of Girard, which submitted the low bid of $87,950 to resurface nearly a mile of Ohio Avenue from Marshall Road south. Other bids ranged from $95,200 to $126,375.