Tuesday, January 14th, 2025

St. Marys raises pay for police

New councilors Childrey, Lunz sworn in

By Abigail Miller
ST. MARYS - The St. Marys City Council on Monday night approved an agreement between the city and the police department's union regarding wages and benefits.
The agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026, between the city and the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, was passed as an emergency ordinance. Some of the changes included in the agreement were: the addition of President's Day as a paid holiday; an additional two days of vacation for employees with 20 years or more of service; the addition of dental and vision coverage; an increase in sick leave payout upon retirement; and an increase in wages.
The officers' wage scale, effective the first full pay period following Jan. 1, 2025, will be increased by $2/hour. Effective the first full pay period following Jan. 1, 2026, the wage scale will be increased by 4%.
Councilors also approved an agreement between the city and the Utility Workers Union of America, which represents all city utility workers, including general services, electric, and water and sewer workers. This agreement was also approved as an emergency ordinance.
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Some of the changes to the agreement included an increase in on-call pay from a minimum of two hours to three hours if employees are called in to work outside their normal workday; an increase to the standby duty pay for people on standby duty; an increase to the reimbursement of workers taking tests for advancement in water and wastewater and mechanics; the addition of dental and vision coverage; an increase in the sick leave payout upon retirement; the addition of Columbus Day as a holiday; an additional of three days of vacation for employees with 25 years of service or more; employees will now be required to reimburse the city for the cost of their commercial driver's license training if they leave employment within five years of getting their commercial driver's license; and an increase in wages.
Also on Monday, city law director Zach Ferrall swore in two new councilors: Arienne Childrey and David Lunz.
Childrey filled long-serving councilor Robin Willoughby's vacant 4th ward council seat and Lunz filled former councilor Kyle Schmel's vacant 2nd ward council seat.
Councilors also heard the first reading of an ordinance establishing rules for the public participation portion of council meetings.
The list of proposed rules for the communication and petitions portion of council meetings is as follows:
• The communications and petitions portion of the agenda shall be dedicated to allowing the public at large to speak on issues pertaining to city business at each regular council meeting.
• Citizens shall be permitted to speak one time per topic during the communication and petitions session per meeting.
• Citizens desiring to speak during the communication and petitions shall use the podium in council chambers, state his/her name, home street name (no business or post office boxes) and specific subject matter on which he or she intends to speak.
• If not completed as required, the presiding officer will first prompt the speaker to the correct requirements; if they do not comply then the presiding officer will not recognize that particular speaker.
• Each speaker shall direct his or her comments towards council as a whole and shall not direct questions or comments to individual members of council or towards other members of the public.
• A speaker shall observe all rules of decorum. No debate, disrespect or obscenities shall be tolerated.
• The presiding officer shall refer all matters raised by a speaker as follows: Any legislative questions may be answered by the appropriate council committee chairman or affected ward councilor; any administrative questions may be answered by the mayor or by the appropriate administrative staff member; and any other questions may be disposed of at the discretion of the presiding officer.
• Councilors, other elected officials and administration representatives shall not debate public speakers and shall only answer questions as directed by the presiding officer.
• The total length of time that any speaker may appear before councilors during any communication and petitions session shall be a total of five minutes per topic. If a speaker needs more than five minutes then a request by the speaker to extend their time may be permitted by a vote of a majority of councilors agreeing to extend the time.
• At the presiding officer's discretion, any violation of these rules may result in the speaker being asked to cease speaking and/or being removed from council chambers by the chief of police or their designated officer, and referred for prosecution for disturbing a lawful meeting.
The council meets next at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in council chambers.
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