UNION TOWNSHIP Supervisor files suit over wage

Only supervisors can set hours and duties, the attorney said.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa -- Union Township Supervisor Clair Damon has filed a court action asking that township auditors be ordered to follow state law.
Gabriel Cilli, township solicitor, who is serving as Damon's personal attorney in this matter, said the action was filed Tuesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. Cilli said Damon is asking the auditors to do what the Second Class Township Code requires -- set a comparable wage for Damon as Union Township roadmaster -- and not interfere with his hours and duties which are supposed to be set by township supervisors.
Wage package
In their meeting earlier this month to set wages for Damon, township auditors John DeRobertis and Steve Galizia, who was defeated in November by Damon for the supervisor's seat, set Damon's wage at $5.15 per hour. While auditors have the right to set wages for the roadmaster, Cilli said he checked with nearby communities and found nothing even close to the low wage set for Damon.
Cilli said that the auditors also tried to interfere in defining Damon's hours and duties which, he said, only supervisors have the authority to do.
In addition, during part of Galizia's tenure as supervisor, Galizia and Supervisor Pat Angiolelli shared the roadmaster job and were each paid $10 per hour. The third auditor, Richard Pauline, did not attend the auditors meeting.
Under a revised township budget set for adoption Jan. 31, money has been provided for Damon to be paid $10 per hour and make $20,800 per year based on a 40-hour work week. Damon said he will not take any benefits as part of the roadmaster job. A Pennsylvania State Police officer for 25 years, he said he has good benefits already and has no need for the township's package.