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Proposal to add $5.75 hourly supplement for two senior water operators fails after board debate
Summary
Councilman Kilmer proposed a $5.75-per-hour pay addition for two senior operators in the Town’s Water Department; the board discussed overtime, union signoffs and internal control of overtime before declining to approve the pay change at this meeting.
A proposal to add $5.75 per hour to the hourly pay of two senior water operators, Tim Burns and Gilman Clark, did not receive Town Board approval after discussion about overtime practices and union signoffs.
Councilman Dan Kilmer introduced the proposal, saying the two senior operators had taken on day-to-day responsibilities for water and wastewater operations and should be compensated for additional duties. Kilmer recommended the supplemental rate of $5.75 an hour to be added to the hourly rate for the two named employees.
Other board members expressed concerns about prior overtime levels for those positions and asked whether promoting the employees or designating them as department heads would lead to excessive overtime and affect labor agreements. Kilmer told the board he had discussed overtime controls with the employees and believed they would scale back excessive overtime. Board members raised the need for union notifications and approvals: Kilmer reported that ASME had signed off on the arrangement but that CSEA had not, and the board heard that CSEA might file grievances if the change were implemented without agreement.
A motion was made to adopt the compensation change and was seconded for discussion. The board proceeded to a roll call vote; during roll call, Councilman Kilmer and Councilman Garcia indicated support, while other members voiced opposition or concern and the motion did not pass at this meeting.
Ending: The board did not approve the supplemental pay tonight. Members asked staff to address overtime controls and union negotiation questions before the matter is reconsidered; no effective pay change was implemented as of the meeting’s adjournment.
