Dana board approves 2026 pay changes, hires bookkeeper and caps longevity pay 3–1

The Town of Dana Board met at Dana Town Hall on Dec. 9, 2025 and approved a series of personnel and operational measures aimed at finalizing the town’s staffing and payroll arrangements for 2026.

Board President Bob Richardson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Doan recorded members Kyle Marshall, Martha Kritzer and Fred Craft as present; John Davern was absent.

The board voted unanimously to approve the November 2025 minutes and, during old business, voted to delay additional concession-stand insurance payments until the Ball League pays its agreed share. Street Superintendent Brent Bush was tasked with obtaining price quotes for new concession-stand doors.

Under new business, the board unanimously approved hiring Patty Karanovich for bookkeeping and bank reconciliation at $25 per hour for up to 15 hours per week. The panel also unanimously approved 2026 compensation for town employees and elected officials and corrections to 2024 compensation records, following a motion by Kyle Marshall and seconded by Martha Kritzer.

The board approved a $250 annual boot stipend for employee Bob Brannin, effective January 2026. It postponed hiring a reserve police officer because of budget constraints and said the vacancy will be revisited after the new budget is adopted.

On a 3–1 vote, the board adopted a cap on longevity pay of $100 per year of service, up to a $1,900 maximum payable at year-end. The motion was moved by Kyle Marshall, seconded by Martha Kritzer; Fred Craft opposed.

The board also approved new City Hall and Water Company office hours, effective January 2026: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Members voted unanimously to implement the ADP timecard app for employee clock-ins and clock-outs; the minutes list a start date of January 2025, which appears to be a typographical error given the Dec. 2025 meeting date, and the board indicated implementation at the start of the next pay period in January 2026.

The meeting included a brief update that town officials are working with Kevin Hixon and the Internal Revenue Service on a repayment plan for outstanding tax obligations; no repayment amount or schedule was specified in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Nov. 2025 minutes: Motion carried unanimously (4 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Martha Kritzer. - Concession-stand insurance (wait for Ball League payment): Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Fred Craft; seconder: Kyle Marshall. - Hire bookkeeping services (Patty Karanovich, $25/hr, ≤15 hrs/wk): Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Fred Craft. - Approve 2026 compensation and correct 2024 records: Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Martha Kritzer. - Boot stipend ($250 for Bob Brannin, effective Jan. 2026): Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Fred Craft. - Reserve police officer hiring: Postponed (no formal vote recorded on a hiring action). - Longevity pay cap (cap $100 per year, up to $1,900): Motion carried 3–1 (yes: Richardson, Marshall, Kritzer; no: Craft; Davern absent). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Martha Kritzer. - New office hours (Mondays & Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., effective Jan. 2026): Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Martha Kritzer. - Implement ADP timecard app (implementation Jan. 2026, corrected from apparent typographical error in minutes): Motion carried unanimously (4–0). Mover: Kyle Marshall; seconder: Martha Kritzer.

The board will revisit the reserve-officer position during the upcoming budget process.