Posted on March 6, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
An amended salary ordinance passed on second reading and was adopted during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.
At the last meeting, Town Attorney Justin Schramm explained that the initial salary ordinance, which included a 3 percent raise for various department heads and the town council members, was adopted on January 2nd of 2018.
He said the State Board of Accounts could potentially have a problem with council members receiving raises in the same year they’re approved, so to be on the safe side, the salary ordinance was rewritten to remove the council members from the list of individuals who received a 3 percent raise in 2018.
Schramm also mentioned that if members wish to have a raise next year, they’ll need to have the 2019 salary ordinance completed and approved prior to the first of the year.
All members voted in favor of adopting the amended salary ordinance, with the exception of Councilman John Rowe. He was required to abstain from the vote to avoid a conflict of interest since the salary ordinance includes a raise for the Clerk-Treasurer, who is currently his brother Andrew Rowe.
Showing posts with label town salary ordinance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label town salary ordinance. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Amended Salary Ordinance Fails to Pass on First Reading at NJ Town Council Meeting
Posted on February 22, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
An ordinance amending the approved 2018 salary ordinance was considered on first reading during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.
When the town council members passed the salary ordinance back in January, it included a 3 percent raise across the board, except for Town Marshal Kelly Fisher who forfeited her raise to supplement the raises of her officers.
In the initial ordinance, town council members were included in the individuals who would receive the raise. However, Town Attorney Justin Schramm said that due to when the ordinance was passed, that raise could potentially be seen as questionable by state officials.
“Because we had so many things that were stacked up, we actually didn’t get ours passed until January 2nd of 2018. The State Board of Accounts doesn’t like that, they consider it a conflict of interest if you’re a legislative body and you vote yourself a raise, you can’t take it until the following year.” Schramm explained, “Since we didn’t get ours passed until 2018, the Town Council, the legislative body, can’t vote themselves a 3% raise.”
Schramm elaborated, saying that this was really just an issue of timing, rather than an ethical concern since the council members didn’t know they weren’t permitted to accept the raise. However, should they ever be audited, he said the members could be asked to return that money at some point down the line.
Schramm added that if they wish to take a raise in 2019, it will need to be approved prior to the first of the year.
When it came time to vote, Council President Wendy Hoppe, Councilman Josh Browne and Councilman James Young voted in favor, while Councilman John Rowe abstained. Since Councilwoman Jane Ellen Felchuck was not present, the ordinance was not passed. Schramm explained that in order for it to pass on first reading it would have needed 2/3rd approval and it only received 3/5ths.
The amended ordinance will be considered on second reading during the next North Judson Town Council meeting.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
An ordinance amending the approved 2018 salary ordinance was considered on first reading during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.
When the town council members passed the salary ordinance back in January, it included a 3 percent raise across the board, except for Town Marshal Kelly Fisher who forfeited her raise to supplement the raises of her officers.
In the initial ordinance, town council members were included in the individuals who would receive the raise. However, Town Attorney Justin Schramm said that due to when the ordinance was passed, that raise could potentially be seen as questionable by state officials.
“Because we had so many things that were stacked up, we actually didn’t get ours passed until January 2nd of 2018. The State Board of Accounts doesn’t like that, they consider it a conflict of interest if you’re a legislative body and you vote yourself a raise, you can’t take it until the following year.” Schramm explained, “Since we didn’t get ours passed until 2018, the Town Council, the legislative body, can’t vote themselves a 3% raise.”
Schramm elaborated, saying that this was really just an issue of timing, rather than an ethical concern since the council members didn’t know they weren’t permitted to accept the raise. However, should they ever be audited, he said the members could be asked to return that money at some point down the line.
Schramm added that if they wish to take a raise in 2019, it will need to be approved prior to the first of the year.
When it came time to vote, Council President Wendy Hoppe, Councilman Josh Browne and Councilman James Young voted in favor, while Councilman John Rowe abstained. Since Councilwoman Jane Ellen Felchuck was not present, the ordinance was not passed. Schramm explained that in order for it to pass on first reading it would have needed 2/3rd approval and it only received 3/5ths.
The amended ordinance will be considered on second reading during the next North Judson Town Council meeting.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
North Judson Town Council Members Include 3% Raise in Amended Salary Ordinance
Posted on January 24, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council members met for a special session to discuss the town salary ordinance prior to their regular meeting last week.
Members approved three percent raises across the board for the council, clerk-treasurer and department heads. The only position that remained unchanged was the park caretaker position.
Town Marshal Kelly Fisher requested forgoing her raise and giving it to her full-time officers. As a result Officers Frank Thomas and Rico Simpson will be getting four percent raises. Council President Wendy Hoppe said with the increase, those officers would be making a little bit more than Culver officers.
Officer James Dulin is still on a probationary period since he was only hired back in November and he won’t attend the police academy until September. Town Marshal Kelly Fisher explained that he won’t be eligible for a raise until that period is up and he’s finished academy training.
The ordinance received council approval from all members except for Councilman John Rowe who had to abstain due to his relation to the clerk-treasurer. The new pay rates will go into effect on February 2nd.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council members met for a special session to discuss the town salary ordinance prior to their regular meeting last week.
Members approved three percent raises across the board for the council, clerk-treasurer and department heads. The only position that remained unchanged was the park caretaker position.
Town Marshal Kelly Fisher requested forgoing her raise and giving it to her full-time officers. As a result Officers Frank Thomas and Rico Simpson will be getting four percent raises. Council President Wendy Hoppe said with the increase, those officers would be making a little bit more than Culver officers.
Officer James Dulin is still on a probationary period since he was only hired back in November and he won’t attend the police academy until September. Town Marshal Kelly Fisher explained that he won’t be eligible for a raise until that period is up and he’s finished academy training.
The ordinance received council approval from all members except for Councilman John Rowe who had to abstain due to his relation to the clerk-treasurer. The new pay rates will go into effect on February 2nd.
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