Raise issue still unresolved

The third try was not the charm when it came to deciding on raises for city employees.

Portland City Council again could not agree Monday on raises for city employees, deadlocking on one proposal before moving on from the issue for the night.

Also Monday, council set guidelines for a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of property for the expansion of the U.S. Aggregates stone quarry.

Portland Mayor John Boggs for the third consecutive council meeting asked Monday that council approve a $1 raise for all city employees and elected officials in 2021 except city court judge Donald Gillespie, who said he would not accept a raise. The increase, an average of about 4.5%, would cost $119,219.04. Boggs noted that city employees received a 1.5% raise for 2020 and that the cost of living is up 5.4%.

Boggs first proposed the raises at council’s June 7 meeting, with council members then discussing their options and requesting details about how other raises — 2%, 50 cents, etc. — would impact the budget. Revisiting raises during its July 6 meeting, council ultimately voted to table the issue until council president Kent McClung, who is on a trip overseas, could be present. (McClung was not at Monday’s meeting.)

In addressing raises, council member Janet Powers said she’s appreciative of the work city employees do but that she doesn’t believe the $1 raise would be fiscally responsible given other potential expenditures facing the city. She noted the 2% raise approved by Dunkirk City Council last week before proposing a 50-cent raise of city employees.

Council members were split on the issue, with Dave Golden agreeing with Powers’ assessment while Matt Goldsworthy and Michele Brewster said they feel city employees deserve more than a 50-cent raise. Goldsworthy noted some entry-level positions that start at $15 per hour. He then suggested a 75-cent raise.

Powers eventually made a motion for a 50-cent raise with Golden seconding, but that motion deadlocked 3-3 with Don Gillespie, Powers and Golden in favor while Mike Aker, Goldsworthy and Brewster voted against it.

No other motions were made, leaving the issue to likely be addressed again at council’s Aug. 2 meeting.

Council also scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3, tentatively to be held in the auditorium at Jay County Courthouse, to hear public comment about the U.S. Aggregates rezoning request. U.S. Aggregates will make an initial presentation about its request and the commitments it has agreed to regarding home values, reclamation and other issues. (Josh Atkinson, the attorney representing U.S. Aggregates, explained that the company has started meeting with council members individually to discuss details.) Members of the public will then be given time to address topics, with a limit of five minutes each. (Those interested in speaking should contact the mayor’s office at (260) 726-9395.) U.S. Aggregates will then be allowed to respond.

City attorney Bill Hinkle noted that city council is not required to vote at the special meeting.

Portland Plan Commission on July 1 gave a favorable recommendation for U.S. Aggregates’ request to rezone about 108 acres between Tyson Road and Seventh Street, east of county road 200 West, from agricultural residential to industrial. City council has 90 days to act on that recommendation.

Council also heard a request from representatives of the Portland Rockets for funding to help renovate the current restroom and concession stand or construct a new one at Portland Memorial Park’s Runkle-Miller Field. Randy Fisher, representing the Rockets’ fundraising committee, said the cost for a new facility about the same size would be $65,000 to $70,000. He asked about various funding options, including money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Boggs responded that the city has not yet received funds from the American Rescue Plan and that final guidelines on spending have not yet been set. He and council members recommended that Rockets representatives encourage supporters to fill out the parks survey — bit.ly/parksurvey21 — that Portland Park Board is using to develop its five-year master plan. He also suggested seeking grants that could help with such a project, noting that Portland Junior League and Jay County Pee Wee Football have followed similar procedures.

Boggs also acknowledged the change in leadership at Portland Police Department, introducing new chief Mitch Sutton. Former chief Josh Stephenson resigned from the post last week, and Portland Board of Works approved Sutton, who worked for more than 30 years longtime Jay County Sheriff’s Office employee, as the new chief.

“There has been a morale problem over the last month and a half,” said Boggs, adding that efforts to change that pattern were unsuccessful. “There’s already been a great improvement in the morale of the department.”

An Indiana State Police investigation regarding Stephenson has been turned over to special prosecutor Jeremy Brown of Adams County.

In other business, council:

•Heard from Aker that the Portland Optimist Club fishing derby is slated for 8:30 a.m. July 31 at Hudson Family Park, with registration at 8 a.m.

•Approved closing Commerce Street between Main and Walnut Streets from noon to 3 p.m. for a Back 2 School Block Party hosted by Grounds on the Fly, Barnett’s Auto Parts and Wrecker Service and the Greazy Pickle.

•Heard from Boggs that the city will apply for funding for street paving in the next round of the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings grant program.

•Approved applying for a state grant for new warning signs at railroad crossings.