Council waits again on wage decision

A vote to determine the City of Portland’s employees’ wages for 2019 was tabled for the second time in two weeks. 

Portland City Council decided the ordinance, which would give each full-time employee a 3-percent raise, warrants further discussion. 

Council members also heard a request for a tax abatement from the owner of the Holiday Inn Express. 

At its July 2 meeting, council members reviewed an ordinance spelling out wages for Portland’s employees for 2019 and tabled it to discuss several issues. On Monday, several city council members still had problems with the ordinance, particularly the base pay for police officers and firefighters. 

Portland Police Chief Nathan Springer presented a packet to council members containing information about other area departments that are hiring and requirements of police officers that differ from other city employees, including the hiring process, training and the emotional impact of the job. 

At past meetings, council members heard from Robert Moore, president of J & B Lodge 102, Fraternal Order of Police, that Portland’s pay is lower than many area police and sheriff’s departments. The proposed base rate for 2019 for the police and fire departments is $39,336.18. 

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman said it’s difficult to decide to raise one department’s salaries over another department’s. He pointed out that different employees respond to different emergencies, such as the water department employees who worked on the water main break July 6 on Votaw Street. 

“It’s hard to distinguish when you’re … in charge of 54 employees, who’s more important than the other? It depends on circumstances,” Geesaman said. “How can we be fair knowing what police and fire have to go through, but how can we be fair to the rest of them?” 

Council member Judy Hedges said while all city employees are important, the job requirements and risks are different for police and firefighters compared to the rest of the city.

Water main breaks are not common occurrences, she said, and other employees don’t work on holidays and weekends. 

“I think too in this day and age, every time they go out for a call they could get attacked, they can be shot, you know, they’re talked to in very disrespectful ways sometimes, and I think that’s just where our world is going right now,” Hedges said. “It’s kind of scary to be a police officer or fire department ... as opposed to sitting in the city office, working Monday through Friday, working with paper.” 

Geesaman pointed out that on top of the base rate, police and firefighters receive longevity pay, have clothing allowances and can earn between $10 and $20 each pay period for certifications. While their pay may be similar to other departments, police officers and fire department employees end up earning more than other employees, he said. 

Council members agreed to table the issue until their next meeting — Aug. 6 — and in the meantime will discuss options for increasing compensation for the fire and police departments. Options include retirement benefits, clothing allowances, certification pay and sign-on bonuses for those who have already completed training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. 

Also Monday, council members heard a tax abatement request from Scott Daniels, owner of Stay Jay Hotels LLC, which is licensed as a Holiday Inn Express. The hotel opened at 100 Holiday Drive 10 years ago and is now required to complete a property improvement plan to keep its licensing through IHG, the principal owner of Holiday Inn. That plan includes $1.5 million in improvements to the hotel.

Daniels requested a tax abatement on $888,000 in real property, which will include renovating the front desk and breakfast area and work in each of the hotel’s 73 rooms. He said he expected the plan to cost significantly less and is hoping the abatement will help with the expenses of the project, which also calls for new furniture, televisions and redecorating. 

Council approved sending the request to the tax abatement advisory committee. 

In other business, council members Janet Powers, Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michele Brewster, Don Gillespie and Hedges, absent Kent McClung:

•Approved creating a separate fund to pay for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant from the $600,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Because the project is being paid for partly by the grant and partly from a state revolving loan, the accounts have to be kept separate. 

•Heard that paving of Main Street should begin on Wednesday after the milling is complete and the project will likely be finished by the end of the week. Geesaman reminded residents of Main Street between Charles and Meridian streets to park their vehicles elsewhere.