Public works employees press council for raises as town manager outlines major paving and utility projects

Several members of Fairfax Public Works and SEIU representatives spoke during open time at the July 1 Fairfax Town Council meeting to press for a three‑year contract and wage increases they said would amount to roughly $48,600 for five workers in the first year. Speakers described low pay relative to Marin County norms, hazardous working conditions and the value of in‑house repairs that they said save the town substantial contractor costs.

Salvador Maroquin, an SEIU field representative, asked the council to “do the right thing” for the workers and summarized the union’s request. Longtime Public Works employee Rudy Contrady described 39 years of service and urged the council to prioritize pay adjustments so staff can remain in the community. Other employees illustrated cost savings from in‑house repairs — noting, for example, an estimated $20,900 contractor job that Public Works completed for about $2,000 in labor — and said low wages force staff to take second jobs.

Town Manager Heather provided an extensive town operations update at the start of the meeting. She said Marin Water pipeline work is scheduled to resume on July 13 and run through approximately the end of November with the downtown segment likely in early September; Ross Valley Sanitary District downtown Broadway work is expected to be complete by mid‑August. Heather said Park Road stormwater and paving are scheduled to be finished by the end of September and other paving phases are planned through early 2027 for Merwin, Spruce, Oak Manor, West Bray and Olima roads. She also noted that park rules signage has been installed at multiple parks, that the tree committee will return tree‑ordinance recommendations, and that Fire Station 21 remodeling is underway with additional repairs to come back to council.

Several council members acknowledged the public comment on wages. Council members and staff noted that labor and compensation issues are typically addressed through the town budget process and that wage adjustments would require financial planning, budget adjustments and, in some cases, collective‑bargaining steps. There was no immediate action on wages at the meeting; staff and council suggested follow‑up through the budget and negotiation processes.

What’s next: staff will continue project scheduling and public notice for construction impacts; union and staff advocates said they intend to pursue the town’s formal bargaining and budget channels to seek a multi‑year contract and wage changes.