Town Employees

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By -

Editor, Times-Union:

Well it seems like every year at this time (budget time) the same question comes up. Why do public employees for the Town of North Manchester get a 3 percent increase in wages?

Once asked this question to President Chris Garber and his answer was, "We appreciate our employees." Hmmmm! If that's the case then why was an individual told they had to leave because the FML was up when a family member was injured in an accident. That does not sound like an act of appreciation. I know that restrictions are limited when it comes to FML.

Yes, I have a problem with employees of the town getting an increase when our federal government has put a "No wage increase freeze" for this next year and they get a 6-percent increase.

Well, according to the government statics the cost of living has went to -2.9 percent. This should be proof enough. The other individuals who have not receive an increase has been our retired and disabled individuals who have not received an increase for two years now.

So how does a town of 5,135 (approximately) afford to continue to give their employees a raise year after year while the taxpayers are just trying to make ends meet from week to week?

Then to have to pay an outsource to assist with their budget which cost the town $10,000. I'm not sure why this happened. Those who were voted or appointed to office should be able to handle this, it's part of the job descriptions.

So I'm sure when the council meets again for the second meeting in December they will once again vote for the 3 percent increase. Whatever happened to having to post the wages of each department head in the paper?

Taxpayers of North Manchester and other small towns that this happens to needs to speak up.

Valerie Clarkson

North Manchester, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]

Editor, Times-Union:

Well it seems like every year at this time (budget time) the same question comes up. Why do public employees for the Town of North Manchester get a 3 percent increase in wages?

Once asked this question to President Chris Garber and his answer was, "We appreciate our employees." Hmmmm! If that's the case then why was an individual told they had to leave because the FML was up when a family member was injured in an accident. That does not sound like an act of appreciation. I know that restrictions are limited when it comes to FML.

Yes, I have a problem with employees of the town getting an increase when our federal government has put a "No wage increase freeze" for this next year and they get a 6-percent increase.

Well, according to the government statics the cost of living has went to -2.9 percent. This should be proof enough. The other individuals who have not receive an increase has been our retired and disabled individuals who have not received an increase for two years now.

So how does a town of 5,135 (approximately) afford to continue to give their employees a raise year after year while the taxpayers are just trying to make ends meet from week to week?

Then to have to pay an outsource to assist with their budget which cost the town $10,000. I'm not sure why this happened. Those who were voted or appointed to office should be able to handle this, it's part of the job descriptions.

So I'm sure when the council meets again for the second meeting in December they will once again vote for the 3 percent increase. Whatever happened to having to post the wages of each department head in the paper?

Taxpayers of North Manchester and other small towns that this happens to needs to speak up.

Valerie Clarkson

North Manchester, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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