Nonelected employees get 2% retroactive raises

The safety-service director said he has targeted 25 homes for demolition.

STRUTHERS — City council approved 2 percent pay increases for a number of full- and part-time nonelected employees, retroactive to Jan. 1, which will cost the city an estimated additional $9,100 this year.

New annual wages for department heads are tax commissioner, $32,019; sewage superintendent, $63,720; fire chief, $51,418; police chief, $51,418; safety-service director, $46,802; street department foreman, $46,719; and assistant sewage plant manager, $46,352.

New annual wages for nonelected employees are mayor’s secretary, deputy auditor, law director’s secretary, police department secretary/clerk, and the clerk of council, all at $27,846 each.

New wages for various other positions are full-time park caretaker/laborer, $21,664; part-time coordinator for litter/recycling, $10.05 per hour; part-time driver for litter collection, $9.01 per hour; part-time tax office clerks, $9.12 per hour; part-time driver for the van for the elderly, $8.28 per hour.

In other action, Safety-Service Director Edward H. Wildes said he was allocated $20,000 in the budget for demolition of homes in the city and has targeted 25 homes for demolition as soon as the legal process will permit.

He displayed pictures of the homes, and their addresses, at Wednesday’s council meeting.

During the meeting, several citizens also complained about the lack of upkeep of homes in their neighborhoods.

Councilman Robert Carcelli III, D-4th, said he has scheduled a ward meeting for 10 a.m. Saturday in council’s caucus room at the Municipal Building, 6 Elm St.

Carcelli said when he ran for office, he promised to be accessible, and that an open ward meeting is one way to do it. He invited ward residents to come to the meeting and express their concerns and opinions.