Tuesday, November 14th, 2023
St. Marys OKs raise for police sergeants
By Leslie Klosterman
ST. MARYS - City councilors on Monday evening accepted a tentative 3-year contract with the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association for the city's police sergeants.
Councilors also heard second reading of an ordinance to increase the salaries of elected officials effective Jan. 1, 2024, 2026 and 2028.
Councilors signed off on the new tentative agreement after meeting in a 35-minute executive session, said city public service and safety director Greg Foxhoven.
The new agreement will grant yearly raises to police sergeants, with raises of 6% in 2024, 4% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, according to personnel director Sue Backs.
It also makes changes in light of state Issue 2 passing. The voter-approved initiative legalized adult-use sale, purchase and possession of marijuana for Ohioans who are 21 and older.
The contract stipulates that refusing a drug or alcohol test would result in termination. The contract currently states that refusing a drug or alcohol test is grounds for discipline.
"Then there was also a paragraph where it talked about positive test results and it would refer to medical marijuana," she added. "'Medical' was struck out and now it will say 'marijuana in any form.'"
In other business, council members passed onto third reading an ordinance adjusting the salaries of elected officials.
The ordinance would affect the salary of the mayor, auditor, law director, treasurer, council president and council members. Elected officials cannot give themselves pay raises, so the legislation will take effect as the elected official's term ends.
For example, the mayor's annual salary would increase from $22,000 to $25,000 effective Jan. 1, 2024, and increase again to $29,810 on Jan. 1, 2028. The increase would take effect as Patrick McGowan steps down and newly-elected mayor Joe Hurlburt takes office.
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the salary of the treasurer would increase from $9,000 to $10,500, and the salaries of the council president and council members would increase from $5,750 to $6,100.
Effective Jan. 1, 2028, the salary of the auditor would increase from $24,000 to $32,520, and the salary of the law director would increase from $35,000 to $47,425.
Council president Jim Harris has said the raises would help retain staff and make the positions more competitive.
In addition, Foxhoven said assistant city law director Kraig Noble is drafting legislation to create a housing authority to potentially serve as an avenue for the city to sell lots in the Sleepy Hollow subdivision.
Foxhoven said a city housing authority would be similar to the city's Community Improvement Corporation, which facilitates the sale of land from the city to businesses.
"The housing authority would allow us to deal directly with individuals, so that's something he is putting some final touches on," Foxhoven said. "So (lots) will either sell through that route or we will go through the public auction."
Foxhoven said no lots have been sold. There are 13 lots available in the subdivision, which is located on the north side of town and located near the Sleepy Hollow Nature Preserve. The 7.8-acre nature preserve will not be developed.
The city council meets next at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27 in the municipal building.
