Joseph Carbonaro, director of the utility department, pleads for employee raises at a Lorain City committee meeting May 8. (Heather Chapin–The Morning Journal)
Lorain City Council committees met May 8 to discuss a number of items that will head to the full Council during its next regular meeting May 15.
A contract to improve Pawlak Park, located on West 14th Street, was criticized at a recent Council meeting where a bid submitted by Irvin’s Inc., of Amherst, was questioned by John Falbo, of Falbo Construction Co., who pointed out alleged discrepancies with the application of the lowest and winning bidder.
The $256,662 contract was put on hold to give the city’s Law Department time to look it over before sending it back to Council to vote on it.
At the May 8 Federal Programs Committee meeting, Law Director Pat Riley said there was nothing wrong with the contract and it was, in fact, “the lowest and best bid.”
The committee unanimously agreed to send the matter back to Council for its vote.
In other news, the Police, Fire and Legislative Committee discussed an ordinance that would allow all classified and unclassified non bargaining employees to receive “an increase in pay equal to the wage increase to be received in any one year by the United Steelworkers of America (Local 6621).”
Joseph Carbonaro, director of the Utilities Department, told the committee that employee turnover is high in the city due to the lack of wage increases and potential for promotion.
The Utilities Department includes about 100 employees, including a handful of managers, some with union representation and some without, similar to each of the other city departments.
“It’s only fair that their employees and them (the members of management) receive the same proportional wage increases,” Carbonaro told the committee. “We’ve had people leave the city because there is no mechanism in place for wage increases … we’re stagnant.
“We’re just asking for a cost of living wage increase year to year … we’re begging.”
The city changed its wage structure in 2021, essentially ending all wage increases for nonunion city employees, including members of management.
Meanwhile, Council President Joel Arredondo pointed out that Council members haven’t seen a raise from their $12,000 annual pay since 2012.
Arredondo also noted Elyria, a smaller neighboring city, pays its Council members approximately $2,000 more a year.
The committee unanimously agreed to send the ordinance to Council for its consideration.
Council is expected to review its employee salary study it received earlier this year as it tackles the employees’ request for wage increases.
No action was taken regarding a raise to Council’s salaries, but Arredondo told the committee that if they wanted an increase, they are required to enact legislation by the end of the year.
A heated exchange regarding city officials’ usage of electronic devices also was broached at the committee meeting.
Two new rules would prohibit usage of devices by city officials during public meetings and dictates proper usage of city-owned devices, according to city documents.
The new proposal is expected to be included on Council’s agenda for its next meeting.
