Manchester Town Employees to Receive Raises
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester's town employees will be reimbursed the annual 3 percent raise that was put on hold due to financial concerns, North Manchester Town Council President Don Rinearson said Thursday.
An uncertain financial forecast stayed the employees' raises until the year's end. The council now has a clearer read on the state of the finances.
The town needed at least $40,000 to cover the pay increases, Rinearson said. With departments' savings and other unencumbered money, the town now has $80,000 left over, he said.
Department heads kept their spending down. Throughout the year, no special fund appropriations were needed, Rinearson said.
He called the surprise amount a "highlight of the year."
Employees will receive the money in a special check due Monday, clerk-treasurer Nancy Reed said.
Most employees will get more than $200. Several department heads will receive more than $1,000, according to records.
In an unrelated matter, two groups will meet to discuss their differing views on the fate of the Thomas Marshall building, also called the Town Life Center, Bond Street, North Manchester.
Town Life Center Planning Committee Chairman James K. Garber told the town council that the planning committee had agreed to tear down the historic former schoolhouse and construct a new building.
An unnamed ad hoc group, headed at the council meeting by councilman Karl Merritt, opposed the demolition. Merritt called the move "premature and not taking into consideration the community's wishes to save" the building.
The ad hoc group is expected bring a formal proposal to the town council that seeks $5,000 for a "second opinion" to the planning committee's cost estimate.
Council president Rinearson was hesitant to supply any money.
Garber estimated $3 million for the razing of the Thomas Marshall Building and building a new structure in its place.
He sought $77,000 that the town has in a fund from the Indiana Department of Commerce. The council did not oblige.
The Thomas Marshall building is one of two historic schools remaining in Wabash County, Todd Zeiger, director of the Northern Indiana segment of Landmarks, said. Landmarks is willing to participate in saving the schoolhouse, Zeiger said.
It is eligible for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, he said.
North Manchester town council includes president Don Rinearson, vice president Stan Escott, Karl Merritt, Warren Garner and Bill Hix. The town attorney is Charles Tiede. Clerk-treasurer is Nancy Reed. Town manager is Dan Hannaford. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester's town employees will be reimbursed the annual 3 percent raise that was put on hold due to financial concerns, North Manchester Town Council President Don Rinearson said Thursday.
An uncertain financial forecast stayed the employees' raises until the year's end. The council now has a clearer read on the state of the finances.
The town needed at least $40,000 to cover the pay increases, Rinearson said. With departments' savings and other unencumbered money, the town now has $80,000 left over, he said.
Department heads kept their spending down. Throughout the year, no special fund appropriations were needed, Rinearson said.
He called the surprise amount a "highlight of the year."
Employees will receive the money in a special check due Monday, clerk-treasurer Nancy Reed said.
Most employees will get more than $200. Several department heads will receive more than $1,000, according to records.
In an unrelated matter, two groups will meet to discuss their differing views on the fate of the Thomas Marshall building, also called the Town Life Center, Bond Street, North Manchester.
Town Life Center Planning Committee Chairman James K. Garber told the town council that the planning committee had agreed to tear down the historic former schoolhouse and construct a new building.
An unnamed ad hoc group, headed at the council meeting by councilman Karl Merritt, opposed the demolition. Merritt called the move "premature and not taking into consideration the community's wishes to save" the building.
The ad hoc group is expected bring a formal proposal to the town council that seeks $5,000 for a "second opinion" to the planning committee's cost estimate.
Council president Rinearson was hesitant to supply any money.
Garber estimated $3 million for the razing of the Thomas Marshall Building and building a new structure in its place.
He sought $77,000 that the town has in a fund from the Indiana Department of Commerce. The council did not oblige.
The Thomas Marshall building is one of two historic schools remaining in Wabash County, Todd Zeiger, director of the Northern Indiana segment of Landmarks, said. Landmarks is willing to participate in saving the schoolhouse, Zeiger said.
It is eligible for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, he said.
North Manchester town council includes president Don Rinearson, vice president Stan Escott, Karl Merritt, Warren Garner and Bill Hix. The town attorney is Charles Tiede. Clerk-treasurer is Nancy Reed. Town manager is Dan Hannaford. [[In-content Ad]]