MAHONING COUNTY Mayor rejects measures on changing pay

Council OK'd legislation to assess property owners for unpaid sewer bills.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Mayor Dan Mamula vetoed legislation city council unanimously approved April 15 on pay raises and changes in salaries for city employees.
During council's meeting Wednesday evening, the mayor announced that he had returned two ordinances to council unsigned. The measures pertain to a pay cut council approved for the litter and recycling coordinator and pay raises council approved for department heads.
In letters to council dated April 21, the mayor explained his objections and urged members to reconsider the ordinances.
The reduction in pay from $9.51 an hour to $8.35 for the part-time litter and recycling coordinator "is unwarranted in light of the responsibilities and duties performed," Mamula wrote.
Under the ordinance, the hourly rate for the coordinator would be less than that of the driver for the recycling program, Mamula continued, "despite the fact that the coordinator is responsible for administering the program and supervising the driver."
He also noted that the coordinator must attend all required Mahoning County Green Team meetings, research and prepare grants, maintain the city Web site and the online procurement and auction program, serve as deputy registrar for vital statistics and assist in the offices of the mayor and safety-service director.
The Green Team handles recycling throughout the county.
Ordinance on raises
Legislation granting raises of about 1.5 percent to department heads, Mamula wrote, is "inequitable when compared to the dollar increases being granted other nonclassified employees."
Council granted 3 percent raises to all full- and part-time nonclassified workers.
Nonclassified employees would receive annual increases between $582 and $958, Mamula noted; department heads would receive between $555 and $875. Pay raises granted to six nonclassified workers would exceed raises granted to six of the seven department heads, he added.
In the budget Mamula submitted to council, he proposed 3 percent pay raises for all city employees.
"For the future," Mamula told council, "it may be more advantageous to consider engaging a professional management consulting firm to assess the positions and develop a salary program for department heads and all nonclassified employees of the city."
Referring to a meeting with a human-resources consultant organized by Councilman Jerry Shields, D-at large, Mamula said he would welcome the opportunity to work with council and a consultant on the matter "if the cost is right."
After the mayor's report, council approved four pieces of legislation:
UAn ordinance creating a full-time position for secretary to the law director.
UAn ordinance establishing salaries for the mayor's secretary ($25,609), deputy auditor ($25,609), secretary to the law director ($21,151), secretary-clerk in the police department ($25,011) and the deputy tax commissioner ($24,863 or salary to be set on appointment).
UAn ordinance adopting a policy to assess property owners rather than residents or renters for unpaid sewer bills.
UAn ordinance authorizing the safety-service director to advertise for bids for the purchase and application of crack sealant to city streets and authorizing the board of control to enter into a contract with the lowest bidder, with the cost not to exceed $23,000.