Salem mayor introduces ordinance to change comp-time payout for non‑bargaining employees

Mayor Cindy Dickey asked the Salem City Council on March 4 to give Ordinance 13 its first reading, proposing a change to how compensatory time is managed for non‑bargaining employees. "We would like to change that to allow them to carry over the 160, these non bargaining people to carry over the 160, and then continue to accumulate it beyond that," Dickey said.

The measure would permit non‑bargaining staff to keep up to 160 hours of comp time from one year into the next and delay automatic payout for hours accumulated beyond that until the end of the subsequent year, when any unused comp time over 160 could be cashed out. Dickey described the change as aligning policy with earlier council intent and helping employees such as streets and parks staff who face heavy workloads during snow or major projects.

Councilmember Andrew Noll moved to read the ordinance by title for its first reading; the clerk read the ordinance title. During discussion, councilmembers raised questions about whether the change could delay or alter how employees receive pay. One councilmember asked, "So at some point, it has to be paid out... Can't we just pay it out no matter what and they can still have the time off?" Mayor Dickey explained that paying it out at the start of the year means employees receive the money up front and would not receive additional pay if they later take the time off, and that the ordinance seeks to let employees retain the time to use it rather than lose it to automatic payout.

No final vote on adopting Ordinance 13 occurred during the meeting; the item was presented for first reading. The ordinance's text, as read by the clerk, says it "supersedes ordinance numbers 2107, 20‑48, and 220906‑52, setting and amending employee fringe benefits for non‑represented employees and city officials, repealing all prior inconsistent ordinances herewith." Councilmembers requested additional review time because some said they received the ordinance only the previous day and wanted to avoid any unintended payroll impacts.

Council discussion also reflected concern for tax and withholding effects when employees are paid a lump sum: Treasurer Todd Mumpire and others explained that lump sums can affect withholding rates and net pay timing. The mayor and council agreed the item should be studied further and a first reading was completed without advancing to passage.

The ordinance remains on file for future council consideration; councilmembers said they would review the language before any second reading or vote.