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LIBERTY -- Township trustees have ratified a new three-year agreement with the road department workers represented by Teamsters Local 377.
Of ficials said the new agreement with the four road workers includes newly hired employees being paid $18 per hour. After the first year, the pay will increase to $20 per hour; after the second year, it will be $21 per hour; after the third year, it will be $22 per hour; after the fourth year, it will be $23; and after the fifth year, it will be $24.
The road foreman will be paid $25.50 per hour.
The agreement is effective May 28, 2023, through April 30, 2026.
Trustees also entered into an agreement with Cari Immerman, a service agent, to help pursue private funding for safety department equipment, such as ambulances and fire engines.
Trustee Chairman Devon Stanley said this will help the township get needed safety service vehicles and other equipment covered by funding and grants.
Immerman will be paid a fee of $2,000 and receive 5 percent of the funding she secures for safety items for the fire and police departments.
Also on Friday, Brandon Rice was sworn in as the newest member of the police department, bringing the department to 22 officers.
Rice previously worked 20 years with the Cortland Police Department. Rice was sworn in and was hired as a full-time probationary police officer effective Sunday.
Police Chief Toby Meloro said when he became the police chief five years ago, the department had 14 officers. He said that in the 1990s, the department had as many as 24 officers on staff.
While Rice is the newest member of the department, police officer James Newton, who has been with the department for 28.5 years, is retiring effective June 30.
In other action, trustees:
l Promoted Michael Carson to a full-time probationary firefighter / paramedic effective May 30. He previously was a part-time staff member;
l Approved a contract with JC3 Builders at $135,000 for upgrades and improvements to the police department.