by Steve Wiandt
Reporter
Cuyahoga Falls -- The administration's efforts to establish a three-year schedule of pay rates for non-bargaining employees of the city was delayed, as Councilmembers will consider approving only a one-year schedule.
Council will vote Jan. 12 on legislation that would provide city employees not belonging to any union a 2 1/2 percent raise this year and a 2 1/4 percent raise in 2010 and 2011. Non-bargaining positions include chiefs, engineers, managers, superintendents, supervisors, clerks, typists and administrative assistants.
The 2 1/2 percent raise for 2009, if approved, would cost the city an additional $225,000, the city's finance director estimated. It would go into effect retroactive to Jan. 1, and affect 96 employees.
"This is a standard non-bargaining ordinance we submit every three years," said Finance Director Joseph Brodzinski at a special meeting Jan. 5, adding the mayor, cabinet, Council and clerk of Council will not be affected by the ordinance. Brodzinski said the rates are the same as those agreed upon in union negotiations, so far.
The city has reached resolution with the unions representing the firefighters, electric workers, and dispatchers. Negotiations with the police patrol officers' union and the police sergeants and lieutenants' union, however, have gone into fact-finding, Falls City Law Director Virgil Arrington Jr. told the Falls News-Press. Both contracts expired June 30, 2008. The city has begun negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union (includes service workers, street, sanitation, and water) whose contract expired Dec. 31, 2008, Arrington said.
"I just wonder, given the economic climate we're in right now, if it makes sense for us to pass this for three years," said Councilor Carol Klinger (R-At large) who suggested passing it for just 2009.
"I don't know why we are having to introduce it tonight, discuss it tonight and vote on it tonight," said Councilor Kathy Hummel (D-At large). "I don't know why we didn't have it two or three weeks ago." Hummel said because there is room for debate on the ordinance and additional information was requested, voting should be delayed a week.
Brodzinski said he will provide Council with the dollar amount and percentage of the budget that goes toward payroll and a breakdown of bargaining employees, non-bargaining employees. He noted the total gross payroll is "20-some million" dollars.
Councilor Don Walters (D-6), chairman of the Finance Committee, proposed approving the rates for one year and reviewing them every December. Brodzinski said each time the ordinance is passed it costs $50 or $60 to advertise it in The Falls News-Press. Hummel said worrying about the cost to advertise two additional times is "ridiculous" considering city payroll figures.
Brodzinski said the rates are consistent with union contracts. Walters asked if the city could renegotiate union contracts, if needed in the future.
"You can always renegotiate something if both sides are willing to sit down and renegotiate," said Arrington. "If we're in such dire straits that we need to renegotiate wages with the unions, we'll do what we have to do to keep the city's budget balanced. "
Arrington said he understands the economic concerns, but when contracts were approved with the unions, the city told union workers that "these are raises we believe we'll be able to afford for the next three years ... it's only fair to the non-bargaining units that we make a similar statement to them."
Taking it one year at a time only for those not in any union, Arrington said, is "basically treating them as sort of second-class citizens ... I'm always about employee morale, and I'm not quite sure what message that would send to our non-bargaining employees."
"I can't say it would hurt morale if people think we're just being cautious," said Walters.
"I disagree," said Brodzinski. "I think on the non-bargaining side it does send a message ... [however] we don't know what kind of message it would send." Whatever the message, he added, the ordinance, as is, would have no impact on the 2010 budget.
"I think we should adopt this as written," said Councilman Vincent Rubino (D-1). "... knowing we will be careful with our spending, and knowing it's hard to predict the future anyway, no matter what year you're in."
E-mail: swiandt@recordpub.com
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