Harpers Ferry council approves FY2027 pay adjustments, lease for water-meter upgrade and easement negotiations

Harpers Ferry — The Harpers Ferry Town Council on July 8 approved a series of personnel and infrastructure items, including formal adoption of FY2027 continuous-service recognition pay, a 3% cost-of-living wage increase, a step increase for the finance officer and authorization for a lease tied to a water-meter upgrade.

Devin, who covered the budget items for council, told members that the continuous-service recognition for employees with more than three full-time-equivalent years “was incorporated into your fiscal 27 budget” and had been paid on July 1. A council member moved to approve the fiscal year 2027 continuous-service compensation “as submitted,” and the motion passed with the vote recorded as 6-0.

Devin also said the “3% COLA wage increase was incorporated in the ... '27 budget preparations,” and the council formally approved that increase, again by a 6-0 tally.

The council went into executive session to discuss personnel and property matters, citing West Virginia code “6 9 8 dash 4 exceptions.” The motion to enter executive session was moved by Russ and carried unanimously; the record notes the executive session began at 06:32 and that counsel (John Brown and Steve Perry) and the finance officer were authorized to attend. The minutes show the council emerged from executive session at 07:15.

After the executive session, the council approved two infrastructure-related actions. A council member moved to grant the mayor authority to sign a lease agreement with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in connection with the Harpers Ferry Water Works water-meter upgrade project; that motion carried 6-0. The council also voted to grant the town attorney authority to negotiate Gilbert Street easements and to authorize the mayor to act as grantee on those easements; that motion passed 6-0.

On personnel matters, a council member asked the finance officer whether the budget could accommodate moving the finance officer’s pay from step 7 to step 9. After discussion the council member moved “to change the finance officer’s compensation from step 7 to step 9 effective 07/01/2026.” The motion was seconded and approved 6-0.

David Simmons was recorded as absent from the meeting. The council moved to adjourn and ended the session at 07:17.

What’s next: The mayor has been authorized to sign the lease for the meter-upgrade project and the town attorney has authority to negotiate the Gilbert Street easements; the finance officer’s step increase is effective July 1, 2026, per the motion. The transcript records no further votes or referrals.