No pay raises for Dunkirk workers (09/26/2008)

DUNKIRK - Council members here approved second and final readings of the city's 2009 budget and salary ordinance Thursday night with no pay raises for elected officials or full-time employees.

However, following a question by water department superintendent Dace Mumbower, council members said they would consider the possibility of a year-end bonus for city employees if funds were available.

Mayor Ron Hunt said he would also have to check with city attorney William Hinkle, who was not present for the rescheduled Thursday night meeting, to work out the details of such a bonus plan, if adopted.

As the council meeting and budget hearing were about to conclude Thursday night, Mumbower raised the possibility of granting employees a 2 percent raise which he said that some of the departmental superintendents had figured into their original 2009 budget estimates.

Following a brief silence, council member Craig Faulkner suggested that if it was feasible economically, perhaps a year-end bonus could be granted at the end of 2009.

Hunt agreed to check over the feasibility of this idea with Hinkle, and consider the proposal further next year.

Shortly after budget discussions started last July, council member Judy Garr introduced a motion to freeze wages in 2009 due to financial constraints. It was approved unanimously at that time.

Garr was not present at Thursday night's meeting.

In other business at Thursday's meeting, council members:

See Raises page 8

•Heard a report from councilman Tom Johnson that workers were running into more problems than expected on their city hall coal-chute cleanup project. He said the crawlspace-basement area under the building near the coal chutes were filled with dirt and debris and surface water appeared to be seeping into the dirt, turning it into a muddy mess.

Johnson said the cleanup by city workers and Jay County Jail inmates was going to take longer than expected but progress was being made. A conveyor belt system is being used to aid in the project.

"It's a nasty, mean job," Johnson said, pointing out that trash and old pieces of wood and bottles, some broken, had become mixed into the dirt under the building over the years.

"It's a nightmare but we're getting it done," Johnson said about the project to eventually clean up the unfinished basement area.

•Learned that the city's current fire station building may still be needed for storage of fire department equipment even after the new combination fire station and Jay Emergency Medical Services base is completed in the Dunkirk Industrial Park.

•Found that a new lease agreement needs to be drawn up for a house on West Commerce Street, next to the current fire station, which the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation purchased on the city's behalf several years ago with the expectation that the site would be needed for future expansion of the old fire station. Several different tenants have lived in the house since its purchase by the city, and city officials are now considering the idea of selling the house.

•Agreed to purchase protective gear, including protective pants and a coat, for a volunteer firefighter who has been with the department for about 20 years. The replacement cost is about $1,100, Craig Faulkner, council member in charge of the fire department, said.[[In-content Ad]]