Friday, September 23, 2016
By Sarah Lehr
CAMPBELL
Mayor Nick Phillips has urged the city to create a part-time janitor/maintenance person position, arguing that city hall hasn’t been cleaned well enough by those sentenced to do community service.
The position would involve cleaning, as well as light plumbing and maintenance work. It would pay $10 an hour for no more than 25 hours per week.
Currently, some of the people sentenced to community service through Campbell Municipal Court are tasked with cleaning the municipal building.
Phillips said during a council caucus meeting this week that the system has been inadequate.
“They’re just trying to burn off the clock,” Phillips said. “They’re just trying to pay off their fines because they don’t care about city hall, because they don’t care about the building.
“We’re catching them in offices on the phone. They’re helping themselves to coffee. They’re destroying the equipment used by the city. They’re a nuisance, is what they are. Community service is a nuisance. They’re not a benefit to the city,” the mayor added.
The city stopped employing a janitor after the state auditor’s office placed the city in fiscal emergency in 2003.
Several council members said they believed a janitor is needed, but wanted to verify first that the city has funds available.
Council voted Wednesday to send the ordinance to a second reading. It typically votes on passage after three readings.
Council also is considering increasing the wage for part-time city workers from $8.10 to $10 an hour. Phillips said it is difficult to recruit people at the current rate of pay.
Council President George Levendis suggested council implement the pay raise only for workers in the street department.
The change would affect three employees. Council voted to send the issue to committee for further study.