The Webbers Falls Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 14, with Mayor Johnny Pollard calling the session to order at 6:16 p.m. Trustees Jewell Hall, Danny Haley, John Morgan, and Robert Ross Jr. were all present, establishing a quorum.
Trustees approved routine consent items, including bills and recurring expenses for October, along with minutes from the Sept. 9 and 17 meetings.
Mayor Pollard reported that street paving is scheduled to begin next week and noted ongoing issues with stray cats in town.
Officer Curtis presented the police department’s monthly report. Fire Chief Armstrong said things had been mostly quiet, aside from a few recent calls, and that the department has been performing maintenance on fire trucks.
City maintenance supervisor Fred Shamblin said crews have kept up with mowing and plan to install a tin horn at the school during fall break.
Code enforcement officer Justin Ohl reported continued progress as he works with property owners on cleanup efforts.
The board voted unanimously to raise the deposit for renting Freedom Hall Event Center to $200 while keeping the rental fee at $100.
Paid Parental Leave Policy adopted
Trustees approved a new Paid Parental Leave Policy with several amendments. Under the updated policy, part-time employees working 20 hours per week will be eligible for one week of paid parental leave, while those working 30 hours will receive two weeks.
Spouses or common-law spouses of women who give birth will be eligible for one week of leave. Adoptive and foster parents will qualify for between one and four weeks of paid leave depending on the child’s age, but the adoption of a new spouse’s child is excluded.
Pay, personnel actions The board voted to surplus the town’s 2011 Dodge Charger code enforcement vehicle and to begin accepting sealed bids for it starting Oct. 20, with a minimum bid set at $1,000.
Trustees also voted to set the starting pay for full-time town employees at $14 per hour.
A 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was approved for all fulltime police officers and town employees, though the agenda had initially listed a 5% proposal.
A discussion on the senior nutrition program was tabled, with Trustee Danny Haley requesting that the topic remain on each future agenda for ongoing review.
The board entered executive session at 6:38 p.m. to discuss personnel matters and reconvened four minutes later.
Upon returning to open session, trustees voted to accept the resignation of Lisa Settlemyre, raise code enforcement officer Justin Ohl’s monthly pay to $750, and hire Jimmie Reed at a rate of $17 per hour effective Oct. 15.
This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.
