February 3, 2014 - Finance Committee

2/3/14 Finance Committee Minutes

Thomas Hilliard

Dave Godwin

Dale Fox

Also attended: Councilman Mackey, Mayor Schwab, Kris King, Ryan Swan

 

Meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. Councilman Hilliard began by discussing the lineman wages, the on-call, and the need for the forth lineman. Councilman Hilliard wanted to have wages compared to Strausburg, Orville, and Dover, but the information he requested has not been received from Michelle Palmer from AMP. He went into discussing the overtime and the call outs that the electric department has had in the past year.  There have been 28 – 30 calls that netted approximately $8800. in overtime.  He also said that George has been to a few meetings but there was nothing ever put in writing why we needed the fourth lineman. Councilman Hilliard said that the finances are available and doesn’t feel that the two hour call back time is efficient. He also stated that the village call out policy, village wide, needs improved. Councilman Hilliard also stated that maybe we should look at a supervisor that can train. He said that Buckeye Vocational School has training but not for a Lineman One. Mr. Fox asked if we could send someone to be trained. Mr. Godwin feels we need a fourth lineman; we should find someone and get them started. Mr. Hilliard asked if this should be up to the mayor and the VA to hire the fourth lineman. Mr. Mackey questioned if we were under the assumption that the lineman are going to stay here forever. He questioned what is keeping them here other than loyalty. He feels we need to put ourselves on the market. Mr. Mackey feels we should remember other departments and would like to see rates gone over, village wide, and addressed. Mayor Schuab handed Mr. Hilliard a job description for the lineman. He doesn’t look at this as hiring a fourth lineman but instead, a third lineman. He stated George has 37 years in and could go anytime but is hinting around to leave in August. He also stated that we can not work with just 2 guys. We need the man power and need to have this resolved as soon as possible. Mr. Fox asked how many has applied for the job and if anyone inside the village has applied. He was instructed that Ricky Patterson has applied twice. Mr. Hilliard doesn’t want to lose Ricky as a street superintendent. Mr. Hilliard feels the new VA will have some answers with his background in utilities. He hopes that the mayor and the new VA will have a proposal for council.

 

Also discussed was the longevity and the stipends. Mackey says that stipends are not available to all employees. Mr. Hilliard stated that if we could change the longevity it would be fair to all the employees.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 6:33pm.                                           Thomas Hilliard