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Council approves 3.5% staff wage increase and defines benefit eligibility for new hires
Summary
The council adopted a 3.5% across-the-board salary increase for staff effective July 1 and set benefit eligibility for new positions at an average of 30 hours per week per pay period; current employees’ benefits remain unchanged.
The Friendship Heights Village Council approved a 3.5% across-the-board salary increase for staff effective at the start of the next fiscal year (July 1) and adopted a policy tying benefits eligibility for new hires to positions that require an average of 30 hours per week (measured per pay period).
Mayor Melanie White moved the salary increase; the motion carried unanimously on roll call. The personnel committee had evaluated alternate levels and recommended 3.5 percent; council discussed prior contracted salary benchmarking and a professional study that recommended larger increases but noted budget tradeoffs.
On benefit eligibility, the council voted that positions posted for new hires that require an average of 30 hours per week (per pay period) will be deemed eligible for full benefits going forward. Council members clarified the measure applies to positions posted after the policy — it will not retroactively remove benefits from existing employees. Council member Roy Schaffer and other members said the change aligns the village with common employer practice and focused the policy on position classification rather than ad-hoc scheduling.
Council asked staff to ensure job postings clearly note benefit eligibility and to document the pay-period averaging approach in the village personnel practice materials. The council also directed staff to continue work on a formalized position description and posting process so applicants understand status and benefits at the time of hiring.
