By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

hubbard

The city council will vote on whether to give the police chief a raise.

Police Chief Jim Taafe’s salary would rise 11 percent, from $49,000 to $55,000, said Ray Moffitt, chairman of council’s finance committee.

Council had a first reading of legislation to adjust the chief’s salary at its regular meeting Monday night. The legislation will go through two more readings.

If it passes, it will take effect 30 days later, Moffitt said.

Moffitt said that the finance committee, at its meeting Thursday, considered the salaries of other chiefs in the area and a positive performance evaluation from the city’s safety director, Lou Carsone.

Mayor John Darko then reviewed the evaluation and recommended the increase, Moffitt said. The raise would be retroactive to Jan. 1.

The city hasn’t raised the salary for the position since 2004, Moffitt said.

“I’m very grateful for the consideration they have given me,” Taafe said after the meeting.

He has been chief since August 2010.

Darko also told council that he would be meeting with the city’s engineering firm about replacing a waterline on Cyrus Avenue. The line broke Friday morning, and there have been several other breaks there, he said.