Macedonia OKs firefighters pact, sets non-union pay scale
MACEDONIA – A collective bargaining agreement for members of International Association of Firefighters Local 3947, which runs from Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2025, is in place after City Council ratified it Dec. 8.
The agreement includes a 4% salary increase in the first year and 3% each in years 2 and 3. A captain will receive $100,150 as of Jan. 1, 2023, while a lieutenant will receive $88,628 and an inspector $83,530.
Salaries for steps one (probation to 12th month) to five (61st month) on the wage table range from $59,520 to $78,432.
The agreement also outlines procedures for such aspects as overtime and longevity pay, work hours, grievances, vacations, holidays, insurance, uniforms, sick and funeral leave and union dues.
“This is the first time that anyone in the current administration can remember that a contract was ratified prior to the beginning of the contract period,” said Mayor Nick Molnar.
In other action, Council established the compensation schedule for non-union city employees effective Jan. 1, 2023. Fourteen pay grades are listed in the ordinance.
For 2023, pay grade 1 can range from minimum wage to $14.87 an hour, while paygrade 14 can range from $91,669 to $143,168.
The mayor’s salary for 2023 will be 1% above the pay grade 13 midpoint of $98,480, or about $99,465. That would rise to 1% of $118,098, or about $119,278, in 2025.
Other employees covered by the legislation work in the mayor’s office, and police, fire, service, parks and rec, building, law and finance departments. Council salaries also are included.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council approved appropriations for 2023, which show $18.85 million ($4.6 million in transfers) in the general fund and $43.05 million ($5.9 million in transfers) in all funds.
Also OK’d is an ordinance which would set up a tax increment equivalent fund (TIF) agreement for the new Don Basch Jewelers building going up on Fairlane Drive.
TIF arrangements dedicate tax increments within a defined district to finance the debt issued to pay for infrastructure projects. The Basch agreement would allow the city to use service payments from the firm to improve nearby streets.
Council confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Robert H. Scott II to the board of zoning appeals, replacing Sue Metzel.
Because of a change in when the city’s share of OneOhio opioid settlement funds will be received, Council removed an appropriation of $106,100 from the 2022 appropriations.
“Initially, it was thought we were going to receive that total all in 2022,” explained finance director John Veres. “But upon further research, it has been determined we will receive it over the next nine years.
“Thus, we will revisit the appropriation once an estimate of 2023’s distribution is known.” He added the added the city is now expected to receive about $8,000 as its 2022 share.
The mayor presented a proclamation to the Nordonia High drama program. It designated Dec. 8 as Nordonia High Drama Day.
City engineer Joe Gigliotti reported the period for anyone to comment about the Highland-Valley View roads intersection project is now open. The project is scheduled to be done in 2025, and the city has been awarded $2.1 million in grant money.
Police Chief Jon Golden reported 23 children participated in Shop with a Cop, and four Chevrolet Tahoe police cruisers have arrived and will be in service soon.
“We are still facing some supply chain issues for delivery of some equipment,” he added.
Law director Mark Guidetti reported a charter review commission will begin its work early in 2023. Six residents will be on the panel, which will recommend amendments to the city charter.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Macedonia OKs firefighters pact, sets non-union pay scale
