Part-time officers get pay raise

STAFF REPORT

CORTLAND — City council passed an ordinance to give pay raises to their part-time police officers — the first rate increase in four years.

Council met Monday evening at city hall with an agenda that, along with the raises, also added two government jobs.

Beginning immediately, part-time officers in their first year will be paid $10 per hour, with a raise of 50 cents in their second year. The raises include double pay for holiday shifts.

Cortland Police Chef Gary Mink acknowledged that the pay rate was lower than he believed his seven part-time officers deserve but expressed satisfaction that they were receiving the pay boost.

Other passed ordinances included plans to hire an administrative assistant for the mayor and a receptionist for the police department.

The ordinances stipulated that the administrative assistant would receive no more than 1,500 hours each year; the receptionist would earn no more than 1,300 at a rate of $10 an hour. A pay rate was not available for the mayor’s assistant.

The councilmen also passed ordinances to petition the Trumbull County commissioners for recognition of the city borders, as well as the boundaries of townships within the city.