Labor force to grow?

Portland may have two additional employees next year.

Members of the Portland City Council learned Monday that the 2010 budget for the city includes an additional park department employee to do routine maintenance on city parks - including Hudson Family Park. Also, the police chief is attempting to get stimulus money to hire an additional police officer.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, told council members that he and Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, met a few years ago and discussed adding another employee to work on Hudson Family Park and other city parks. The full time employee would be paid $15.13 per hour. After Monday's meeting, Harker said the employee would be needed even if Hudson Family Park is not completed by 2010. He said the employee could do mowing and repairs at other city parks.

The addition of the employee was included in the city's payroll ordinance for 2010, which was approved by the council Monday night. All salaries for elected officials and city employees will remain the same in 2010, which was announced by Hosier at a previous council meeting. The mayor will continue to make $45,506.24 per year, and the clerk-treasurer will make $44,704.92 per year.

In other business, Bob Sours, Portland Police Chief, said the city has applied for stimulus money to fund the hiring of an additional police officer, which would increase the police force to 14. If approved, the city would get $204,000 to cover the officer's salary for three years, the officer's pension, and any additional fees. If the city is approved, the officer would have to be employed for at least four years, he said. "It (would) be a great asset to go back to 14," Sours said.

Also Monday, council members:

•Heard council president Bill Gibson thank the city's street department for swiftly repairing a large sinkhole on Glassford Avenue.

Gibson said after the meeting that he reported the hole on May 25 and it was repaired by the morning of May 26. The 18-inch wide and 3-foot-deep hole was caused by a broken tile.

•Heard Hosier ask all city residents to try to avoid Boundary Pike, near where the construction of the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project is taking place. He asked driver's to use caution in the area.

Hosier added that work on the river path to Hudson Family Park will start soon.[[In-content Ad]]