POMEROY — The second of three required readings regarding a pay increase for employees was passed by Pomeroy Village Council this week though not without questions posed by resident, Dan Morris.

Morris asked council to consider its revenue and expenditures before voting to invoke the pay raises - the ordinance requires one more reading before it can be passed. Morris asked Clerk-Treasurer Kathy Hysell how much the raises would cost the village annually - Hysell said about $26,000 but this figure didn’t include overtime or workers compensation, etc. Mayor John Musser pointed out a supervisor’s position had been eliminated this year due to retirement of the street superintendent, a position which cost the village about $27,000 annually in wages.

Morris then asked if the village had received notice of how much its state funding would be cut this year and though it is inevitable municipal governments are receiving cuts, Hysell said Pomeroy wouldn’t know that figure until May. Morris said he’d checked figures with the local auditor’s office to come up with the certified amount of revenue the village could anticipate this year and it was a $359,000 reduction from the previous year - Hysell said this appeared correct. Last year’s certification included an estimated $250,000 grant for water meter installation and inheritance money and although the village can anticipate some inheritance funding this year, the grant for the water meters will not be included in revenue, according to Hysell and Musser.

At the previous council meeting Hysell expressed her concern over the decrease in revenue, saying in a worst case scenario, if revenue didn’t pick up, this could result in layoffs. When asked by Morris, Hysell said her feelings hadn’t changed about making that statement and layoffs could still be a possibility considering the downturn in revenue.  Morris said it was his understanding the finance committee hadn’t even met to discuss the pay increase ordinance and he asked if that could happen, requesting the committee meet with Hysell concerning the numbers. Councilman Jackie Welker agreed and a meeting of the finance committee was set for 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 27 at village hall.

Voting to approve the second reading of the pay increase ordinance were Council members Welker, Jim Sisson, Pete Barnhart, Vic Young and Phil Ohlinger. Councilwoman Ruth Spaun abstained from the vote due to having family members who work for the village.

The new pay ordinance proposes raises for the following positions: chief of police, $38,000 annually (the rate is currently $33,000 annually); village administrator, $47,850 annually (the rate is currently $47,850 annually); waste water operator, $36,400 annually (the rate is currently $36,400 annually); all officers in the Pomeroy Police Department will receive a 75 cent raise with captains going to $12.57 per hour, sergeants going to $11.43 per hour, corporals going to $11.10 per hour and patrolmen and the code enforcement position going to $10.98 per hour; full-time dispatchers in the police departments, $8.02 per hour (the rate is currently $7.53); Pomeroy Mayor’s Court Clerk, $8.52 per hour (the rate is currently $8.03); assistant mayor’s court clerk, $8.16 per hour (the rate is currently $7.67); parking meter enforcement officer, $8.29 per hour (the rate is currently $7.80).

With the water and street departments merging into the new Pomeroy Public Works Department, existing employees from those former departments will all be brought up to the same rate of pay of $10.50 per hour. Any new employees into the public works department will be paid $8 per hour for a period of six months probation and then bumped to $8.50 per hour. The public works clerk, $8.80 per hour (the rate is currently $8.31); tax administrator, $8.80 per hour (the rate is currently $8.31); laborer for downtown maintenance, $8.50 per hour (the rate is currently $8.15). The rate for other laborers will be $7.40 per hour (minimum wage).