Mayor says 'no' to larger pay raise

Greencastle City Council members may have a desire to give the mayor and city-clerk treasurer bigger pay raises next year, but they're going to have a hard time convincing the city's leading ladies to accept them.

On Tuesday night, Councilman Adam Cohen suggested giving Mayor Sue Murray and Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Glenn more than the suggested $1,200 raise next year. The other council members seemed to support the idea but backed off when the mayor herself advised against it, given the current finances of the city.

"I understand the sentiment and I agree, but we are moving into uncharted territory," Murray said referring to the tight budgets that are occurring due to the lateness in property tax bills again this year. "I would think it would be prudent for us not to look at any changes right now."

Councilman John Lanie said he would like to see the mayor and clerk-treasurer receive 5-percent raises.

Last year, the council approved a $1,200 flat raise for both the mayor and the clerk-treasurer, which calculates to less than a 3-percent raise. The council itself waived its own pay raise, which was suggested again Tuesday night by Councilor Smith.

Despite their feelings of goodwill, council members seemed to agree that anything beyond the $1,200 flat raise wouldn't be wise at this time.

The ordinance governing the salaries of the mayor, clerk and council will be presented in a first draft at the council's November meeting with a final draft set for approval in December.

According to the ordinance approved by the council last year, effective this year, the mayor's annual salary stands at $47,600; followed by the clerk-treasurer at $47,023 and the council members at $4,878 apiece.

In other business, the council:

* Learned that the Greencastle Fire Department received a grant of $102,295 from the state Homeland Security Dept. to add a flashover chamber and car fire training area to the county training facility, located behind the county highway department. Fire Chief Bill Newgent said the training facility is not strictly for GFD but is used by all county fire departments and fire departments in the eight-county district.

* Learned that Shoe Sensation has pulled permits to begin work on its new store, located in Putnam Plaza near Peebles and Sears.

* Learned that the Kork and Keg liquor store has requested permits to begin moving into its new location next door, in College Corner mall. The old store will be demolished.

* Learned that Sonic has cleared the permit process and is nearing the start of construction of its new restaurant at Putnam Plaza.

* Learned that leaf pick-up for the city will begin on Nov. 3 and continue, following trash routes as much as possible, through the end of the month.