Personnel committee votes to refer mayor’s office 20/80 pay-scale proposal to budget committee

The Hawkins County Personnel Committee voted March 17 to send a proposal to the budget committee asking that five employees in the mayor’s office be considered for a "20 80" pay scale intended to reflect a 40-hour workweek.

Mayor Mark DeWitt, who introduced the proposal during the committee meeting, said office staff "are working harder than they've ever worked, and they're working at least 8, sometimes 10, 12 hours a day." He told the committee he was not requesting additional raises but wanted the staff to be paid for hours they actually work: "I'd like to have them pay for an 8 hour day," he said.

The mayor asked the personnel committee for permission to forward the concept to the budget committee so the budget implications could be determined. The motion that "the 20 80 pay scale for five employees at the mayor's office will be considered at budget hearings" was made and seconded during the meeting and carried on a voice vote; committee members signified their approval with "aye." The committee did not set a funding source; several members noted that determining costs would be a matter for the budget committee.

Committee members discussed details such as which positions would be affected. The mayor and staff counted the number of employees affected as five; the mayor said maintenance staff had been moved previously but administrative office employees were left out. One committee member said the proposal did not automatically mean final approval: "moving on doesn't mean it's been passed," and that budgeting decisions would follow in the budget review process.

The action at the personnel committee was a referral to the budget committee; no salary changes or appropriations were adopted by the personnel committee itself.

The committee completed other organizational business and moved on to additional agenda items after the vote.