Bellaire Village Council approved pay increases for part-time employees within the service department only.
Ordinance 2012-05, which passed 5-0, boosts the pay for part-time employees at its base to $10 per hour. Councilman Josh Meyer was absent. Any of those employees who hold a commercial driver's license, are licensed to operate heavy equipment or have any other specific license or certification will start at $12 per hour.
This measure is retroactive to May 1 and repeals any other ordinance pertaining to part-time wages for service department employees. These employees will also not be eligible for any type of benefits, sick or paid personal leave or health insurance.
''Once the mayor signs this ordinance we're going to get to work bringing in some people,'' said John Leonard with the Board of Public Affairs. ''We'll place an ad for the positions and we've also had people contact us about possible openings since this plan was first discussed.''
Previously, the part-time positions with the service department paid only $8.14 an hour to start, even if the employees had heavy equipment certification or had their CDL.
Leonard noted, however, he was confused why full-time service employees weren't part of this or an accompanying ordinance. He said the department has had four to five workers retire or resign and the board sought to replace these with part-time employees paid at a higher rate as well as transfer some of the savings to the full-time employees.
Fact Box
The next council meeting will be 6 p.m. July 19 in council chambers.
The police department's officers, both full and part time were not addressed. Both appear to be forthcoming.
''I'd again like to ask council for a $1-per-hour raise for our full-time officers that I first requested on May 17 during the council meeting,'' Bellaire Police Chief Mike Kovalyk said.
Kovalyk reminded council the police department has only had one raise in 12 years with the last pay increase coming in 2005. Councilman Jerry Fisher motioned to take the police raise issue to the finance committee so it can come back with an ordinance for the $1 per hour raise. This motion passed 5-0. Councilman Jim Piatt, chairman of the finance committee, said the group will meet next week to devise the ordinance. That ordinance will also address full-time service employees.
