Trustees OK rehiring, raises for workers

Trustees gave most
employees a 2.8 percent raise for 2008.

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township trustees approved rehiring several employees and granted most of them 2.8 percent increases starting Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008.

Trustees set their own salaries at the highest amount allowed by law, taking a 2.8 percent increase from $12,010 a year to $12,346 a year.

Rehired were: Rusty Garland, janitor, at his current wage of $6.85 an hour; William Roux as township attorney at a rate of $2,500 a month; Judie Jendrasiak, trustees’ secretary, with a 2.8 percent increase of her $16.10 an hour rate to $16.55; Cindy Smith, police clerk/receptionist, $10.50 to $10.79 with a 2.8 percent increase; Police Chief Joseph Consiglio, from $52,625.73 a year to $54,099.25; Police Captain Michael Naples, from $47,610.11 to $48,943.19; Road superintendent Dave Pugh was rehired at his current wage of $46,000; and Sherri Craver, zoning inspector, from $33,765.26 to $34,710.68.

Raises for all firefighters were waived for the time being, while other ideas for compensation are looked into at the chief’s request.

Chief Randy Pugh said he is looking at possibly giving the firefighters insurance or some other type of benefit. He noted the firefighters get paid every six months and the small raise they would get on $9.25 an hour doesn’t seem appropriate.

Five firefighters were terminated for too many absences, a situation Pugh says occurs on a regular basis because firefighters change jobs and cannot always be available. They are given a warning about absences before they are terminated.

Trustees also voted to give newly elected officials benefits including health insurance, optical care, life insurance of $50,000, prescription drug insurance, dental insurance and disability insurance.

Trustees also named Lydia Infante to a new five-year term on the board of zoning appeals effective Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2012; and Steven Gerberry as a new appointee to a five-year term on the zoning commission for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2012.

The board also appointed alternates for the zoning commission and the board of appeals, who will receive half the pay of regular members, which is $25 a meeting, unless they must vote for an absent board member, in which case they will receive 100 percent of the board member rate.

Named were June Lucas, to a three-year term on the zoning commission as first alternate from Jan 1. to Dec. 31, 2010; and Charles Pierce, to a four-year-term on the zoning commission as a second alternate from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011.

The alternates will participate in discussions and will have full access to information as do regular members.