ROAD DEPARTMENT Trustees majority endorse contract

Police and firefighters agreed to the same raises and health care provisions.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Two of the three township trustees say they're satisfied with a proposed three-year contract agreement with the union representing township road department employees.
The third trustee, however, said she needs assurances from township officials on a few matters before she'll vote to approve the contract.
Trustee Lisa Oles said she won't vote for the contract, which includes raises, until she is sure that her two fellow trustees won't replace two road department employees who are set to retire in the near future.
"If these guys want to work harder with less manpower, then I would be in favor of it," Oles said. She added that she also wants to make sure the township can afford to repave its roads while also giving employees raises.
The township hasn't repaved roads since 2002 because of budget cuts.
Trustees are expected to discuss the contract at their meeting Monday.
Supporters' response
When told about Oles' concerns, Trustee Bo Pritchard responded, "I don't know what Mrs. Oles is talking about." He stressed that not replacing the employees won't save the township enough money to repave roads.
Pritchard also said that the road department has fewer employees than it had in the past and that the employees are busy year-round. The township maintains 110 miles of roads.
"It's not like they're sitting idle at any time of the year," Pritchard said. He said more cuts to the number of employees could affect the type of service the department provides to residents.
Only two trustees need to vote for the contract for it to be approved.
The contract
The proposed contract, retroactive to Jan. 1, calls for department employees to receive 3 percent annual raises and a $750 signing bonus while helping to pay for their health care. Trustees had paid health care premiums in the past. The previous contract with the road department union expired in December.
Under the proposed contract, road department employees would be paid a base salary of between $16.84 and $21.13 per hour this year and between $17.87 and $22.31 per hour in 2006, the last year of the contract, depending on their jobs.
"I think it's a fair contract. We moved in the right direction to make sure health care was consistent across the board," Trustee David Ditzler said.
Union officials could not be reached to comment. The road department has a total of 15 employees, not including Superintendent Michael Bertilacci.
Township Administrator Michael Dockry noted that the raises and health care provisions are the same as those in contracts with police and firefighters.
A township memo states that Clerk Michael Kurish has determined the contract will cost the township an additional $320,000 over three years if the two retiring employees are replaced.
hill@vindy.com