East Canton council sets $20 hourly rate for part‑time staff, hires two service workers and appoints solicitor

The Village of East Canton Council approved a package of staffing and pay measures at its meeting, setting the hourly rate for all part‑time village employees at $20, appointing two part‑time service workers and naming a new village solicitor.

The measures — passed by roll call vote — included an ordinance that adjusts part‑time hourly pay to $20 effective with the payroll period beginning Feb. 9, a separate ordinance appointing Thomas Cordray and Troy Burrick as part‑time service employees at $20 per hour (each subject to a drug test and a one‑year probationary period), and the appointment of attorney Charles D. Hall III as village solicitor at $20,000 per year.

Why it matters: council members and staff said the wage change is intended to keep East Canton competitive with neighboring jurisdictions and to improve recruitment and retention in understaffed departments, particularly the service and water functions.

Service department staff described the hiring plan and wage recommendation during the meeting. “I’m asking the council raising wages on part time water and service employees hourly rate to $20,” said a service department staff member who presented the staffing proposal. The same presenter recommended hiring Thomas Cordray and Troy Burrick, citing plow and equipment experience and the need for mid‑night call coverage.

Mayor Spencer addressed the recent release of a probationary service employee, explaining the village’s use of probationary periods to evaluate fit. “When we have someone that’s a probationary employee, sometimes you just wanna move in a different direction. Doesn’t necessarily mean they did anything wrong…that’s why you have a probationary period,” Mayor Spencer said.

Council voted to declare the part‑time pay ordinance and the hires emergency measures so they could take effect at the earliest legally allowable date. The ordinance appointing Charles D. Hall III as solicitor was approved on a separate vote; the ordinance sets the annual compensation at $20,000, payable in monthly installments and authorizes the fiscal officer to complete the appointment.

The meeting also included other formal items. Council accepted a $2,600 donation from Council Member Paul Bann to the East Canton Police Department; Bann abstained from that vote. Council approved a resolution consenting to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) resurfacing project for U.S. 30 within village limits; the resolution states the state will assume and bear 100% of the cost of the improvement while the village would pay for any LPA‑requested features deemed unnecessary by state or federal authorities.

Council members discussed staffing challenges in the police department and said an incoming police chief is scheduled to begin later in the month; council also scheduled a grants committee work session and discussed planned revisions to the employee handbook (including converting sick time to paid time off and updating holiday and parental‑leave language).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025‑03 — Accept donation of $2,600 from Council Member Paul Bann to the East Canton Police Department. Outcome: Approved; donor abstained (abstain recorded for Paul Bann).

- Resolution 2025‑04 — Village consent to ODOT resurfacing of U.S. 30 within village limits (state to assume 100% of improvement cost; village to pay for LPA‑requested features deemed unnecessary by FHWA). Outcome: Approved by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025‑01 (second reading then passed) — Appointment of Charles D. Hall III as village solicitor at $20,000 per year. Outcome: Approved by roll call.

- Ordinance (part‑time pay amendment) — Amend part‑time pay rules to set hourly pay at $20 for all part‑time village employees, effective payroll period beginning Feb. 9; declared an emergency measure. Outcome: Approved by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025‑05 — Appoint Thomas Cordray and Troy Burrick as part‑time service employees at $20 per hour; start contingent on passing a drug test; one‑year probationary period; declared an emergency measure. Outcome: Approved by roll call.

The council also approved payroll disbursements and set a grants‑committee work session to review consultant candidates and application costs. Council members said they will continue work on employee handbook updates at an upcoming work session.

The meeting closed after additional routine business and scheduling items.