Aldermen okay city workers’ pay raise

 Christmas came early for employees of the City of Clarendon last week when the Board of Aldermen approved raises for all personnel.

The board debated the raises at its regular December 10 meeting and were informed that the city had historically given three percent across the board raises on an annual basis but no raises were given in fiscal years 2012 or 2013. Employees also did not get a raise in 2008.

A recommendation for a five percent raise started the discussion, but it became quickly apparent that aldermen wanted to do more for their employees.

“I think it would be fair to pay a wage worth what they work,” said Alderman Will Thompson.

“Compared to what other cities are paying, our guys are working a month for free,” Alderman Larry Jeffers said.

Discussion settled on a raise of seven percent, and the debate then turned to how best to distribute that increase. Alderman Doug Kidd encouraged dividing the money evenly among all employees instead of making raises based on percentage of salary.

“If you’re really wanting to help morale and help the guy at the bottom, this is better for lower paid employees,” Kidd said.

The board approved a motion to give a seven percent across the board raise. Kidd cast the lone dissenting vote, noting that he was not against the raise but just preferred a different method of distributing it.

The raises will cost the city about $27,000 and will come from the money previously budgeted for the city administrator’s salary.

Aldermen also approved a motion to allow the mayor $40 per month for mileage expenses.

The board considered the election of directors to the Donley Appraisal District and voted to give all the city’s votes to Wilma Lindley for that position.

A budget amendment was approved to move $1,000 from the elevator line item to the street department for equipment expenses.