MANSFIELD — A proposal to raise the pay of Mansfield’s elected officials, which began in November and has been contentious at times, is scheduled for a final vote Tuesday evening.
A 42-minute meeting of council’s employee relations committee on Dec. 3 — which preceded a second reading on an ordinance raising pay for the mayor, law director, finance director and members of council — didn’t resolve issues surrounding the proposed increase.
Another employee relations committee meeting, one of four planned before council caucus is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
A finance committee meeting is scheduled for 6:20 p.m., during which the city’s temporary 2020 budget will be discussed. Council is expected to vote on the budget Tuesday night.
Under the pay raise proposal, the mayor’s position, which now pays $81,000 annually, would increase to $90,532 on Jan. 1, 2020, an increase of 11.7 percent. It would then rise to $92,343 in 2021, $94,189 in 2022 and $96,073 in 2023.
The law director’s position, which now pays $76,142 annually, would increase to $89,500 on Jan. 1, an increase of 17.5 percent. It would then rise to $91,290 in 2021, $93,116 in 2022 and $94,978 in 2023.
The finance director’s position, which now pays $72,879 annually, would increase to $89,500 on Jan. 1, an increase of 22.8 percent. It would then rise to $91,290 in 2021, $93,116 in 2022 and $94,978 in 2023.
The president of council and members of council, who meet bi-monthly, each now earn $7,536 annually. That would jump to $8,362 on Jan. 1, an increase of 10.9 percent. It would then rise to $8,529 in 2021, $8,700 in 2022 and $8,874 in 2023.
The raises would not affect those in the middle of their elected terms — council representatives of the 1st, 3rd and 5th wards and the At-large member appointed to replace Cliff Mears when he becomes council president in January.
During the Dec. 3 meeting, almost all council members present seemed in favor of a pay increase, though there was no agreement on the amount. The only opposition came from 4th Ward Councilman Walden “Butch” Jefferson, who opposed even sending the proposal forward for a second reading.
In other action Tuesday, council is expected to:
— vote on a resolution honoring the Mansfield Senior High School football team, which recently concluded its 13-2 season with a loss in the Division III state championship game in Canton. It’s the first time a Mansfield team earned a spot in the state title game since post-season playoffs began in 1972.
— vote on resolutions honoring three outgoing members of City Council, including At-Large Councilman Don Bryant, 2nd Ward Councilman Jeff Rock and 4th Ward Councilman Walden “Butch” Jefferson.
— vote to establish council committee assignments for 2020-2021, including the following committee chairs: airport (Phillip Scott), Claims (to be determined), economic development (Alomar Davenport), employee relations (Jean Taddie), Finance & Audit (Jon Van Harlingen), municipal and public utilities (Jason Lawrence), parks and recreation (Cheryl Meier), public affairs (Taddie), rules (David Falquette), safety (Scott), streets & traffic (Lawrence) and zoning (Van Harlingen).
— vote to elect Scott as council president pro-tempore for the next term.
— vote to hire Amy Yockey as the clerk of council and Vanessa Gingerich as assistant clerk of council.
— vote on the appointment of Falquette to the city’s historic preservation commission.’
— vote on the appointments of Mark Wilging and Paul Lintern to the city’s board of tax appeals.
— vote to accept a $10,788 grant from the Richland County Regional Solid Waste Management Authority for recyling and litter prevention.
— vote to accept a $5,000 donation from the Richland County Foundation’s Robert E. and Andrew S. Fisher fund to be used for Cyclops Field.
— vote to accept a $100 donation from Daniel Mapes and Modern Woodman Fraternal Foundation to be used in the city’s parks and recreation department.
— vote to appropriate $61,151.07 from the unappropriated water fund to be used for fire hydrant inspections.
— vote to appropriate $441,000 from the unappropriated workers’ compensation fund to pay the 2020 workers’ compensation discounted premium before the new date of Dec. 23.
— vote to amend portions of Chapter 193 of the city’s codified ordinances to ensure compliance with state law and allow for proper continued taxation of retirement benefits.
— vote to authorize renewal of an agreement with Richland County commissioners for payment of counsel fees for indigent criminal defendants.
— vote to lease space at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center, 445 Bowman St., to Richland Pregnancy Services.
