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NEWTON FALLS -- A petition with 250 village residents' names was submitted to the village clerk to referendum an ordinance that granted a pay increase for Village Manager Pam Priddy.
Resident Julie Lemon at Wednesday's council meeting presented the petition to village clerk Michael Acomb indicating 250 residents were not happy with council's 3-2 vote in October to grant Priddy a pay increase to $90,000 per year.
Council previously had voted 3-2 granting Priddy the pay increase.
Voting in favor were John Baryak, Gideon Fetterolf and Tesa Spletzer. Voting against were Kevin Rufener and Julie Stimpert.
"We the residents of Newton Falls decided to do something about this. I have a signed petition from the electors of this community," she said indicating residents are not happy with "wasteful spending."
She said the referendum petition needed 141 signatures and 250 were obtained.
"You feel that she deserves this pay increase. Two hundred and fifty citizens of this community challenge what you feel and I am one of them. You did what you had to do and we did what we had to do. The people of Newton Falls will always have the last word," Lemon said to those on council who approved the pay increase.
Baryak, who is acting mayor, said after the meeting that the board of elections will need to validate the petition and the signatures on it, and a legal opinion will be sought on the referendum.
"We will see where this goes," he said.
Acomb said the petition will be reviewed by Law Director Brad Bryan.
Lemon said she believes if it is approved by the board of elections, it would be on the ballot in 2024.
Resident Rick Kerlin said those who did the referendum "do not know what they are doing."
Priddy, who has been performing as manager for two years, received the new contract effective Oct. 20. Her current pay of $60,000 will be increased to $90,000. She will not be entitled to overtime.
The contract will expire upon the completion of all of the following projects: the Scott Street sewer project, the Community Center renovation project, the River Grant Project and the 2024 road project, or a period of 48 months, ending on Oct. 19, 2027, whichever is sooner.
If council terminates the agreement prior to its expiration date, the Priddy shall be entitled to a minimum severance payment equal to the total amount due for the remaining months left on the contract, unless the city manager materially breaches the contract by the commission of misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office or is convicted of a felony.
The city manager shall be eligible to receive the same fringe benefits and across the board raises to which other nonunion employees are entitled. She also will get an increase in her vacation time from five to six weeks and will be covered under the village's public officials' liability insurance policy.
FINANCE DIRECTOR
IN other business, council voted 3-2 on a new contract for Finance Director Shawn Housley who will be paid $1,500 per week or $78,000 annually,
Voting in favor were Baryak, Fetterolf and Spletzer while voting against were Rufener and Stimpert,
Baryak said Housley receives no benefits at the job,
"He has been instrumental in helping this village move forward with the finances," he said.
Rufener said the position is part-time for $1,500 per week.
"If the position were a full-time finance director and someone here five days a week eight hours a day I would be willing to fully accept this. But for a part-time employee this doesn't add up," Rufener said.
Priddy said Housley puts in many hours each week when not in Newton Falls checking on items for the village and in contact with her in the morning, afternoon, evening and weekends answering questions and checking on matters.
"It is incorrect to say he is part-time," she said,
Stimpert said when Housley was hired it was part-time and that he would trains someone else to eventually take over the position and that was more than a year ago
She asked Housley how many hours he puts in each week in-house in Newton Falls and out-of-house.
Fetterolf said Housley has the education, experience and ability to continue doing the job as finance director.
"He has done a tremendous job," he said.