Wages for employees of the City of Bradford were approved on first reading at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Some of the increases are bigger than others,” city administrator Chris Lucco said at the meeting. “For example, the firemen. The reason is because they had conceded to a pay freeze last December/January to assist the city with a struggling budget. And at that time the agreement was they would make up that pay increase this year.”
On Wednesday, Lucco explained the firemen were given a raise of 2.5% for this year, and 2.5% for this 2021. Fire Chief Eric Taylor, for example, will earn $74,966.15 in 2021. That is an increase of $4,277.95.
Three captains will earn from $64,142 to $64,622. Four lieutenants will earn from $62,022 to $64,262. Seven firefighters/paramedics will earn from $58,402 to $60,682. Five firefighters/EMTs will earn from $56,112 to $57,152.
In the police department, raises of 2.5% were given, Lucco said.
Police Chief Mike Ward will earn $74,147.95. Lt. Steve Caskey will earn $69,835.98. Three sergeants will earn $66,775.98 to $67,035.98. Two school resource officers will earn $66,335.98 and $65,605.98. The juvenile officer will earn $63,735.98, and 11 patrolmen will earn from $47,107.07 to $65,155.98.
In the city’s governing body, the stipends for the mayor and councilmen did not change. The mayor is given $10,000 a year, while the councilmen and city controller, Ron Orris, are each given $5,000 a year.
All other departments were given raises of 48 cents an hour.
In administration, Lucco will earn $83,517.85. Human resources director Valerie Figula will earn $40,747,35, and fiscal assistant and payroll clerk Elaina Lucco will earn $40,214.50. Four receptionists and assistants will earn from $34,214.50 to $37,570.97.
In the treasurer’s office, treasurer Karen Hector’s salary stayed the same, at $50,400. Two tellers/clerks will be paid $28,214.50.
Chip Comilla, as director of parks, streets and refuse, will earn a total of $75,302.17, an increase of $1,564.57.
The foreman of the refuse division will earn $23.29 an hour, while others in the department earn from $15.35 to $22.32 an hour. In the streets division, the job foreman will earn $23.16 an hour, while others will earn from $17.11 to $23.22 an hour.
In the parks department, the three employees will earn $15.90 an hour, $21.51 an hour and $23.04 an hour.
Electrician Dan Tyger will earn $42,635.39.
In the property maintenance department, officers Kevin Huff and Mark Smith will each earn $40,627, an increase of 50 cents an hour each. And Huff will earn an additional $4,764 as the department’s director.
The Office of Economic and Community Development is a self-sustaining agency, the wages for which do not come from the city’s tax dollars.
The wages for the OECD for 2021 are as follows: executive director, which is slated to be Shane Oschman, $80,000; economic & community development & Main Street manager Anita Dolan, $54,747; and Main and Elm streets project coordinator Sarah Matzner, $18.32 an hour.
