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WEIRTON -- Two items presented to the city's Finance Committee on Wednesday will warrant additional discussion by the full city council before action is taken, including a new contract with the union representing the city's firefighters and proposed pay increases for three employees.
The proposed pay increases would be for the positions of general superintendent, city clerk and driver for social services, all of which are non-union municipal employees.
No specific dollar amount was discussed during Wednesday's meeting.
Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich explained she was not involved in developing the proposal, adding it came from Ward 4 Councilman George Ash via City Manager Carlo Pilgrim.
Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso and Ward 4 Councilman Fred Marsh noted council had provided pay increases in April for some of the positions, and questioned if there was a need for an additional increase.
"They all got raises," Fracasso said. "Now we want to go back and give them another raise?"
Ash, who is not a member of the Finance Committee but was in attendance Wednesday, recommended the issue be discussed in executive session.
Fracasso and Marsh agreed, saying they could take it before the full council during a work session already scheduled for Wednesday night.
The Finance Committee also opted to hold off on a decision on a new contract with the International Firefighters Association Local 948, which includes establishing new salary ranges for Weirton's firefighters.
"I think we need to sit down with the full council," Fracasso said.
Smoljanovich noted she had provided councilmembers with copies of the current IAFF contract, along with the new proposal.
The committee also decided to table a resolution authorizing financial support of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle in the amount of $33,062.50.
"My biggest question, before we hand out the money, is what their future is," Marsh said, noting the recent announcement of the pending departure of BDC Executive Director Patrick Ford.
In other business, the Finance Committee recommended:
¯ A resolution for the purchase of a 25-yard sanitation packer for the Sanitation Department in Public Works, from Hill International Trucks, at a cost of $160,826.22. Public Works Director Rod Rosnick explained it was a lease-purchase agreement.
¯ A resolution for the purchase of two snow plow trucks, from FYDA Freightliner, at a cost of $241,490.
¯ A resolution to place liens on property at 129 Era Street, in the amount of $9,762.75.
¯ A resolution to contract with Justice Business Service, for $2,222, for asbestos abatement at 316 Ohio St., as well as a resolution to contract with Pulice Construction for demolition of the same property in the amount of $6,700. Fire Chief Jerry Shumate explained the property had been the site of a structure fire.
¯ A resolution to place liens of $300 at 105 Paul St.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)