Council rescinds earlier pay ordinance and approves new salary changes on first reading

The Sweetser Town Council rescinded an earlier amendment to the town salary ordinance and approved a revised set of pay changes on first reading during its Dec. 14 meeting.

Travis LeMaster moved to rescind Ordinance 2023-4, describing it as containing "errors and omissions," and the council voted to rescind with Charles Myers, Matt Stewart, Travis LeMaster and Chuck Briede recording aye votes; Kyle Taylor was absent. LeMaster then moved to pass Ordinance 2023-6 on first reading and Chuck Briede seconded the motion. The motion carried with the same recorded ayes and Taylor absent.

Ordinance 2023-6 amends the town's 2023 Salary Ordinance (Ordinance 2022-6) by raising the Maintenance Assistant position pay cap to $21.50 per hour, creating a Temporary Maintenance position with a pay cap of $15 per hour, creating a Seasonal Mower position with a pay cap of $10 per hour, and eliminating three tiers of Deputy Marshal pay in favor of a single rate of $25 per hour from the date of hire. Councilmember Travis LeMaster noted the rescission was to correct the previously enacted amendment's mistakes.

The vote recorded no abstentions; the council handled the personnel ordinance as continuing business and did not provide a second reading or final adoption at this meeting. The ordinance remains on the town's legislative path for additional readings or formal adoption as required by local procedure.

Council members also discussed related budget planning for 2024 in new business but tabled further action on the 2024 salary ordinance pending additional review.

The council will take further procedural steps on the ordinance at future meetings; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 21, 2023.