WESTOVER — Westover Mayor Dave Johnson said the city’s employees are well compensated for the city’s size and at Monday’s regular meeting the city’s council took the first step to give city workers a pay raise in the coming year.
“We appreciate the job everybody is doing and we want to keep them,” Johnson said.
City Clerk Sandie Weis also said the increased pay could help attract new talent to Westover. Her position is among those slated to receive a raise, from $20.85 an hour to $24.50 an hour. Johnson said even with the raise Weis will make about half of what her Morgantown counterpart does, but Westover’s size and budget need to be considered when making the comparison.
The proposed pay scale also creates more of a separation between different ranks in the city’s police force, Johnson said. Under current pay rates a police officer makes $19.33 while a sergeant makes $20.17. If council approves the new rates at its May 6 meeting, they would make $19.85 and $21.50, respectively.
Police lieutenants will make $22.50, the deputy chief will make $23 and the chief will make $24.50 an hour, though Johnson said it’s a salaried position and lower than other area chiefs make. Trainees and new officers will also see increased wages.
There will also be a $1,000 incentive pay for police officers who are certified and have experience on another West Virginia law enforcement agency. The incentive will be paid after the completion of a certified officer’s field training period. Chief Rick Panico said field training last four to six weeks. Weis said the incentive is cheaper than sending someone to the West Virginia State Police Academy.
“I’m glad to have it,” Panico said.
He explained that the money could attract qualified officers who want to come to a smaller place for a change of pace, though Panico noted he always questions why an officer would want to come to a new place and start over.
Administrative positions such as court clerk, finance/grant administrator, billing clerk and other staff will also get a raise.
Under the new pay scale for sanitation workers, CDL drivers will be paid $14.25, drivers will be paid $13.25 and laborers will be paid $13 – a 50 cents an hour increase for all three positions. Street department workers including laborers, equipment operators, skilled laborers and mechanics/welders will also receive a 50 cent increase.
The city will also change its incremental pay increases from 25 cents at one year, five years, 10 years, 15 and 20 years. The new scale will see a 25 cent raise at one year, 50 cents at five, 75 cents at 10 years and $1 every year thereafter. The previous cap at 20 years will also be eliminated.
