Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - During a discussion of a proposed salary ordinance Wednesday night at the North Manchester Town Council, board member Stan Escott suggested excluding town clerk Nancy Reed from the increase.
Last month Escott questioned Reed's decision to require all town employees to use direct deposit for their paychecks. Reed said the state board of accounts suggested it, and it would be much easier from an accounting standpoint.
Wednesday night, Escott recommended Reed be excluded from the salary increase because he "asked for a rationale (at the last meeting) and did not receive it." He also cited Reed's "insensitivity" when he asked the question. Escott said he wanted to exclude part-time employees and be flexible with the direct deposit policy.
Reed responded to Escott's comments by saying the direct deposit did not pose a hardship for anyone because checking accounts are free. Reed, who has been the town clerk for 32 years, said she did not understand why Escott wanted to affect her salary for an entire year because of one situation, then asked Escott, "Is there a vendetta?"
"My concern is the lack of flexibility in dealing with part-time employees of our town," Escott said.
Escott's proposed amendment to the salary ordinance was voted down 3-2. Escott and Laura Rager voted to exclude Reed's 3 percent raise, while council president Don Rinearson, Christopher Garber and Diane Haupert voted against the amendment.
The salary ordinance, which gives a 3 percent raise to all town employees' base salaries, was approved 4-1 on the first reading, with Escott being the lone "no" vote. The ordinance will be reviewed and voted on two more times before it is official.
After the vote, Rinearson said one of the main reasons for the direct deposit was that a few employees were "cookie jarring checks for six to eight months ... (creating) an accounting nightmare."
In other business, the council:
• Approved a request from the parks and recreation department for $22,000 for repairs to the community pool building and the Boy Scout Hall building. The pool building needs a new surge tank and exhaust units, while the Scout Hall needs a new roof. The council approved a motion that limited the repairs to $22,000. The money will come from the cumulative capital development fund.
• Approved general ordinance 08-2006, creating a Major Moves construction fund in the town. The fund will be used for the $43,141.21 received from the Major Moves initiative from the state.
• Approved declaratory resolution 06-2006, moving existing appropriations from the 2006 budget to the 2007 budget. The monies will be used on large projects for 2007. The funds reduced for 2006 and appropriated for 2007 are: cumulative fire and building fund, $50,000; rainy day fund, $50,000; riverboat fund, $50,000; and local road and street fund, $30,000.
• Appointed Dan Hannaford as the North Manchester representative at the Economic Development Group of Wabash County.
• Approved a motion to purchase eight new green trash containers for the downtown area.
• Heard seven 30-yard containers of trash were removed from the town on fall cleanup day. The number was down from past years.
• Heard 98 loads of leaves have been taken out of town so far in six days of leaf pickup.
Manchester Town Council members are Chris Garber, Diana Haupert, Don Rinearson, Stan Escott and Laura Rager. Town manager is Dan Hannaford, secretary-treasurer is Nancy Reed and town attorney is Charles Tiede.
