Fillmore salary ordinance includes cellphone stipends

FILLMORE -- Also wrapping up business prior to the new year, the Town of Fillmore now has a new salary ordinance. However, it did not have support from a town council member.

The Fillmore Town Council held a special meeting Thursday morning to conduct its second reading of this new ordinance. While it was ultimately approved, council member Jerry Huff expressed concern about two elements: a pay increase for the clerk-treasurer and a yearly cellphone stipend.

The breakdown is as follows according to Ordinance 2020-10:

-- The clerk-treasurer will receive a bi-weekly wage of $1,175, 34% out of the General Fund and 33% out of both the Sewer and Water Funds;

-- The town marshal will receive a bi-weekly wage of $595, 100% paid out of the General Fund;

-- A deputy marshal may be designated for a bi-weekly wage of $416, 100% paid out of the General Fund;

-- The utilities operator will receive a bi-weekly wage of $1,167, 35% out of both the Sewer and Water Funds and 30% out of the Motor Vehicle and Highway (MVH) Fund;

-- The certified water operator will receive a monthly wage of $500, 100% out of the Water Fund;

-- Town council members will receive a monthly salary of $495, 34% out of the General Fund and 33% out of both the Sewer and Water Funds;

-- The utility clerk will receive $10.50 per hour, split between the Sewer and Water Funds and not to exceed 12 hours per week.

According to the ordinance, a $600 cellphone reimbursement will also be designated for the clerk-treasurer, town marshal and utilities operator. These are to be paid out every December beginning in 2021.

These apply to their personal phones, not ones which are provided by the town. This being the case, the council members’ cellphone numbers are provided on the town hall’s voicemail message.

Huff emphasized that the pay increase for the clerk-treasurer -- at least $4,000 -- and the cellphone stipends were being implemented soon after the town raised its water and sewer rates. He provided that Fillmore residents in general struggle to pay their water bills.

Fillmore purchases both its drinking water and sewage service from Greencastle. As such, the water and sewer increases came after Greencastle’s new water rates were approved last month.

In essence, Huff questioned whether now was the right time for these, making the comment that the town would otherwise rely on grants to fill chuckholes.

Penny Nelson, who occasionally assists at the town office and represented Clerk-Treasurer Jayna Haldeman, responded that the clerk’s pay increase was recommended to keep the position competitive. She also advocated that Haldeman has done her due diligence working for the town.

While Council President Meredith Trusty and council member C.J. Huller voted to adopt the salary ordinance, Huff abstained from the vote. He also did not sign the actual document.

The council held a special meeting for the first reading of the salary ordinance on Dec. 21, an announcement for which was listed in the classifieds of the Dec. 11 edition of the Banner Graphic.

Town Marshal Darrel Bunten, Utilities Operator Joe Cash and Town Attorney Jeff Boggess also did not attend the special session.

The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Fillmore Town Hall.