Sylvania votes for pay increase

Council members voted to increase 1% for non-union employees

12/2/2013
BY NATALIE TRUSSO CAFARELLO
BLADE STAFF WRITER

In keeping in line with wages approved for union employees, Sylvania City Council members voted Monday to increase pay rates for most non-union employees by 1 percent in 2014.

The 1 percent increase is effective in January, and will include one-time lump sum bonuses based on experience and pay levels. The pay increases collectively amount to $43,600 and the lump-sum bonuses to $37,900.

Union employees, such as police officers, utility, and service workers, negotiated a three-year contract that calls for a 1 percent increase and a signing bonus each year, Mayor Craig Stough said. The city is now in the second year of that contract. A similar increase of 1 percent was approved last year for non-union employees, he said. 

Employees in administrative, fiscal, and clerical positions had a 1 percent increase based on different pay levels. For example, an administrative secretary with five years experience could receive $51,905, while a court security officer would be eligible to receive $40,196 for five years of experience.

The pay increases included employees within the court system, and public utility and safety crews. City officials could not provide the number of employees affected.

Officials said positions at the highest pay levels will not receive an increase next year in order to stabilize the pay rate, but will receive a $1,500 lump sum bonus. Those positions and their 2013 annual salaries that will carry over into 2014 are:

  • Chief of Police, $104,939;
  • Police Captain, $93,425;
  • Director of Public Service, $101,592;
  • Information Technology Manager, $88,981;
  • Economic Development/Administrative Services Coordinator, $97,753;
  • Director of Finance, $94,000;
  • Chief Prosecutor, $100,596;
  • Superintendent of Parks and Forestry, $93,324.

The zoning administrator, Bob Oberly, is retiring in January. He was currently being paid an annual salary of $81,500  a year, and the position includes handling the duties of the director of public service in that person’s absence, said Kevin Aller, director of public service. When the position is filling, however, the annual salary will be reduced to $69,000, with responsibilities focusing exclusively on zoning, and some building maintenance.

While most position increases remained at 1 percent, some titles were given a bump in pay because of added workloads.

The position for deputy director of public service, currently held by Joe Shaw, received a 4.4 percent increase, from $88,500 to $92,499. Toby Schroyer, director of finance, who researched and reviewed market pay scales in determining the pay structures, said the position now includes additional responsibilities and duties because of a superintendent in the service department who retired and was not replaced.

An increase from $79,160 to $84,000 next year was also given to both a water foreman and sewer foreman for sharing in the responsibilities of water and sewer superintendents who were not replaced. 

Council also approved one-time bonuses ranging from $800 to $300, depending on the employee skill level.

For a complete listing of the 2014 pay compensation visit www.cityofsylvania.com, City Council Packet for Dec. 2, 2013.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356, or ntrusso@theblade.com, or on Twitter @natalietrusso.