lt e r - May 30, 2012 VouR COM/HUNITV Page 9
m Raises
From page 8
timart opposed that move last year,
citing concerns about tightening
budgets.
If the council and Budget Com-
mittee are attempting to send a mes-
sage to the constituency, he said, he
doesn't think the freeze helps the
community, especially if it's facing
the potential loss of a manager.
"In times of crisis, I think an
agency is best serviced with stability
in management," Fentiman said.
Mahler said the amount in
question is "minute in comparison
to a huge budget." but he said he
thought the matter needed to be dis-
cussed because it. along with rising
insurance costs, is a controllable
cost and a red flag.
"1 didn't join the City Council
for my stipend," Mahler said. "Give
me a break. I'm willing to give it up.
I'm ready to throw them out too.
"'We only have so much money
in this community, and I'm con-
cerned that we're going to have an-
other shortfall if we don't do some-
thing. We need to be good stewards
of our money. That's all there is to
it."
The employees are worthy of
the raises, he said. but the question
is whether it is the right time to give
them raises.
As a business owner. Hall said
he pays employees who. in turn. pay
taxes and help pay for city employ-
ees and their raises.
"'I'm not able to give my em-
ployees wage increases," he said.
"As Dave Halley says, the system is
not right."
But even more important, he
said. is the insurance costs. The city
needs to regroup and restructure
those benefts when contract nego-
tiations begin again.
He noted that, while the size
of the salaries shocked him at first.
they are in line with other cities.
Public Works Director Mike
Adams agreed that a line may need
to be drawn somewhere, but at the
same time. the raises were approved
by council last year and the budget
is balanced, including the raises. He
suggested looking at it in the future.
setting up new guidelines if neces-
sary.
Rodgers said the steps were in
place last year. and they represent-
ed a commitment, even if it wasn't
an official contract, The size of the
raise would amount to little more
than a statement, but he said the
council ought to look at salaries and
insurance in the future.
"I didn't get a step increase last
year." Martin told the council. "If
that's what it takes to maintain the
integrity of the departments, don't
give me one this year"
"Maybe you all deserve a
10-percent raise. I don't know." said
Budget Committee member Dave
Trask. "We need to start drawing the
line somewhere."
In other business, the council:
• Asked Martin to look into
charging interest to the city of Leba-
non, which sent a letter dated May
21 stating it would pay half of the
training costs for two Sweet Home
officers it hired al the end of 2011
on July 15 and the second half on
Dec. 15.
The council had agreed to a re-
quest by Lebanon in the spring to al-
low Lebanon to pay half the bill this
fiscal year. with a May 11 deadline,
and the second half next fiscal year,
by Aug. 1. The fiscal year runs from
July 1 to June 30.
"As we have previously ex-
plained, our current budget is not in
a position of paying such costs dur-
ing this fiscal year," said Assistant
City Manager Ginger Allen in the
May 21 letter.
The city of Sweet Home has
billed the city of Lebanon for ap-
proximately $61,000 under an Or-
egon law that allows jurisdictions
to recover training costs for police
officers hired from another agency
within the first three years of em-
ployment.
"Can we charge interest?" Fen-
timan asked.
"As a business, if somebody
doesn't pay their bill at the end of
the month, we charge them," Mahler
said.
Martin said he would find out
whether interest charges were al-
lowed.
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Summer Reading 2012
Dream Big ~ Read!
Registration
June 14 (3-5pm) or
June 16 (I lam-3pm)
Sweet Home Public Library
1101 13th Avenue I 541-367-5007
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will give you ideas for what to do with
your kids during the summer months. Kids
Konnection will be in The New Era the
last week of each month look for it for
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• Sankey Park, 801 14th Ave.
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Note: there will be no service Jub 4th or 27th
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Fri 6/15- Juggtemania
6/20 - Starry, Starry Night
6/27 - Dream Catchers
7/11" - Going Batty
7/18" - Walk on the Wild Side
7/25 - LEGO Fun Day
* Saace is limited, registration required.
Preschool (0-5 years):
Fridays @ 9:30 am
6/22 - Wish Uoon A Star
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