No Raises For Bel Air Town Employees

A budget amendment that would allow for a 2 percent cost of living adjustment raise for all town employees failed to pass Tuesday after getting less than the required two-thirds majority vote.

Although three commissioners—Susan Burdette, Robert Preston and Edward Hopkins—voted in favor of the amendment, Commissioners Robert Reier and David Carey voted against the amendment, which needed a two-thirds majority of four votes to pass.

The increase would have cost $64,000 this year, which was to be spread across different accounts, and the raises would have gone into effect this month for the second half of the year. Next year, the total cost would have been about $128,000 for the full year.

“Bottom line folks, we are still in a very bad recession and I can’t in good conscience and ask my friends and neighbors who aren’t getting raises to pay more in taxes,” Reier said.

Reier said he values the employees, but can’t support the increase.

Carey said the board made a commitment at the start of the fiscal year to see the year through without giving raises and he intended to do that.

“I will give a very serious consideration to it for the next fiscal year,” Carey said.

Hopkins and Burdette each cited the additional contribution each employee has to make to the pension plan.

Director of Finance, Lisa Moody, said during the meeting that the pension contribution increased from 2 percent to 3.5 percent for civilian employees and 7 percent to 9.22 percent for officers.

Hopkins said this is effectively a pay cut and he hoped to keep things even and help keep employees afloat.

“The town of Bel Air’s employees have earned a cost of living increase due to excellent service,” Burdette said.

Preston said because the town employees have been held at static pay, the proposed mid-year raise would help make up for that.

“I look at this as trying to make up for a devaluation in our dollars,” Preston said.

8:01 p.m.: None of the five commissioners had any additional comment and the meeting closed.

7:59 p.m.: An ordinance stating the town's intent for a sewer inflow and infiltration project was introduced. The debt service is the only thing that appears in the town budget for the Sewer Inflow and Infiltration, Moody said. Because of this, the town needs a resolution to declare officially that it will make the payments on the project that will begin immediately, and later seek tax exempt funding to reimburse the town. The resolution was introduced in a unanimous vote.

7:57 p.m.: Preston moved to approve the budget amendment allowing a 2 percent cost of living increase. Burdette seconded it. The vote required a two-thirds majority vote, four in favor, to pass. Robert Reier and David Carey voted against the amendment, Hopkins, Preston and Burdette voted in favor of. The resolution did not carry.

7:57 p.m.: The board moved to approve the floodplain ordinance. The motion carried unanimously.

7:56 p.m.: Hopkins said what swayed him on the issue was the pension contribution. He said he was in favor of the amendment.

7:56 p.m.: “I will give a very serious consideration to it for the next fiscal year,” Carey said.

7:55 p.m.: “I can say this is somewhat of an unusual request,” Commissioner David Carey said. “I’m going to oppose this not because I have any ill will against the police department or the town of Bel Air employees.”

7:53 p.m.: “Bottom line folks, we are still in a very bad recession and I can’t in good conscience and ask my friends and neighbors who aren’t getting raises to pay more in taxes,” Commissioner Robert Reier said. “I’m not in favor of it at this point in time.” Reier said he agrees with a lot of what Burdette said and values the employees, but can’t support the increase.

7:52 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Preston said the town has held pay static for some time and that pay has become devalued. “I look at this as trying to make up for a devaluation in our dollars,” Preston said.

7:51 p.m.: “The town of Bel Air’s employees have earned a cost of living increase due to excellent service,” Burdette said.

7:49 p.m.: Burdette said a family she knows recently relocated to the town instead of outside the town because it is safe and clean. She said the town police are proactive and that saves residents the cost of crime.

7:48 p.m.: This will help offset the cut created by the increased contribution to the pension plan, Burdette said.

7:47 p.m.: “I haven’t taken this lightly at all,” Commissioner Susan Burdette said. “I really feel that this 2 percent [cost of living increase] is not unreasonable.”

7:45 p.m.: Spint questioned whether the residents of Bel Air can afford this. He suggested the town distribute more money to those being paid less.

7:45 p.m.: Tim Spint, of 911 Leeswood Road, Bel Air, gave public comment on the raise issue. He asked if the 64,000 cost is for six months or a year. Schlehr said yes, it is for six months.

7:44 p.m.: At Schlehr’s request, director of finance Lisa Moody explained the pension contribution went from 2 percent to 3.5 percent for civilian employees and from 7 percent to 9.22 percent for officers.

7:43 p.m.: “The last time we gave a cost of living allowance was in 2010 and that was a 2% increase,” Town Administrator Chris Schlehr said. The cost of the raise would be spread across several accounts in the budget. Schlehr added all employees were also required to increase their own pension contributions.

7:43 p.m.: The public hearing on a budget amendment began. The prosed amendment involves a 2 percent cost of living increase for all town employees.

7:40 a.m. The public hearing on an ordinance updating the town’s floodplain development requirements began. Director of planning Kevin Small explained the new ordinance is similar to what was in place and is basically a copy of the state’s model ordinance. The new ordinance requires an additional foot for development, the old ordinance required building just one foot above the floodplain. There was no public comment.

7:39 p.m.: “One of the things I failed to mention, was that DJ served in every one of our traffic details this year,” Chief Leo Matrangola said.

7:35 p.m.: DJ Ravadge was also promoted. He resides in Bel Air with his wife and two children. He attended Salisbury State University. He served as a Baltimore County Police Officer before moving to Bel Air. He served as detective in the department.

7:33 p.m.: He will serve as patrol Sergeant.

7:31 p.m.: Henry Marchesani was promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant. He previously served in the U.S. Naval reserves, and the Port Deposit police department. He has been a sworn officer for 11 years.

7:29 p.m.: Edward Hopkins called the meeting to order.