In a 3-1 vote, Hennessey’s town trustees approved a 10-step employee pay scale that would take effect July 1 and then passed it 4-0 when the same four members met as the Hennessey Utilities Authority.

Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman gave board members the proposed pay scale at last month’s meeting, but they tabled it.

Trustee Richard Simunek questioned if the town would have the money to make the 50 cent, or 3 percent increase, whichever is higher, each year.

He voted no the first time. The increase would not

The increase would not be automatic on each anniversary year, but contingent on the employee being in “good standing (no write-ups throughout year).”

Although the pay scale doesn’t go into effect until July, Tillman said there would be employee raises effective this month.

“That will get employees closer to their level that is already in this year’s budget,” she said.

The pay scale will be implemented into the town’s employee handbook.

Walters leaving for more money

Tillman announced the resignation of Kati Walters as the accounts payable and payroll clerk.

Simunek asked her where she was going to work and she said Quick Pump.

Walters’ last day was Friday and Tillman will be interviewing candidates this week.

Tillman said Walters will continue her elected job of town clerk.

“She’s leaving for more money,” Tillman said, “which is another reason I want you to approve the pay scale.”

Mayor Bert Gritz said over the years they’d improved benefits for the staff, but not the pay.

Tillman commended Walters’ work over the past four years at Town Hall. Walters had been a police department dispatcher for three years before that.

Shelley Burch, the utilities billing clerk, said she’d had the same hourly pay for four years and if she could drive, would go to work for the County Sheriff’s Office for more money.

Burch is also the elected town treasurer.

Administrator’s report

Bids were opened Jan. 12 on the water/sewer project in the Osborn Addition and came in at $237,000, “almost double” of what they’d anticipated, Tillman said.

The engineer is reviewing the plans to see if the costs can be lowered, Tillman said. Simunek asked if they had enough money for that project, and Tillman said, “It will be tight.”

Tillman reminded the board of its Saturday, Feb. 5, planning meeting from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Seminar Room at the school auditorium.

Other business

The board approved the 2020-21 audit and Tillman said there were no problems.

They also approved $33,000 increases in department budgets mainly due to increased gasoline costs, travel and training and increases in materials and supplies.

At the meeting

All four board members were present: Mayor Bert Gritz, Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Richard Simunek and Harold Shaw.

Also present at the board table was Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman.

Other staff at the meeting were Kati Walters, accounts payable clerk and town clerk; Shelley Burch, utility billing clerk and town treasurer, and Police Chief Ed Cangiano.

In the audience were David Jones, a town board candidate, and Assistant Fire Chief James Matousek.