In a mixed vote - five yeas, one nay and an abstention - the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority Wednesday gave salary increases to its six nonunion office staff members.
The nay vote came from J. Donald Kerns, the authority's treasurer, who criticized the board's chairman, Ian H. Lipton, following a 40-minute executive session on the matter at the authority's City Hall headquarters.
"On the question, I don't go along with that motion because all the increases, all these salary increases, are not in line. They're all different percentages. They were arrived at by the chairman himself. Nobody interviewed, unless the chairman did, nobody interviewed the people to be able to arrive at these amounts. So that's why I will vote 'no' on the motion," Lipton said.
"Any further discussion?" Lipton asked.
None of the other board members spoke up.
"You should have a roll call vote," Edward M. Brennan, the authority's solicitor, said.
"Thank you very much," Lipton said.
Henry J. Minnig Jr., the authority's assistant treasurer, made the motion to approve the increases. It was seconded by Beth Ann Shields, the authority's secretary, and carried with votes from Lipton and members Joe Spotts and Kevin Hoke.
Robert J. Quinn Jr., the authority's first vice chairman, abstained, since his son, James W. Quinn, is the authority's office manager.
"Motion carries. Thank you very, very much," Lipton said.
The salaries will be retroactive to the beginning of 2014, Lipton said.
Following is a list of the authority's six nonunion office staff members, their 2013 salaries, the increases they received and the 2014 salaries:
- Timothy R. Yingling, executive director; 2013 salary, $93,115.88; given a 3.54 percent increase which is $3,300; 2014 salary, $96,415.88.
- James W. Quinn, office manager; 2013 salary, $51,625.60; given a 2.91 percent increase which is $1,500; 2014 salary, $53,125.60.
- Joseph A. Brahler, pretreatment program coordinator; 2013 salary, $50,775.92; given a 2.95 percent increase which is $1,500; 2014 salary, $52,275.92.
- Ellen J. Quinn, billing clerk; 2013 salary, $47,739.64; given a 2.10 percent increase which is $1,001; 2014 salary, $48,740.64.
- Brenda L. Schuettler, an office clerk in 2013 who received a new title, "billing/collection supervisor;" 2013 salary, $45,916.52; given a 4.36 percent increase which is $2,000; 2014 salary, $47,916.52.
- Christina M. Herndon, administrative secretary; 2013 salary, $30,923.88; given a 3.56 percent increase which is $1,100; 2014 salary, $32,023.88.
Shields said she believed the nonunion office staff members were given an increase in 2013, but she couldn't recall the exact increase.
"It's not a given. We have to vote on it every year. They did get an increase last year, but I don't remember what it was," Shields said.
The authority's union employees received annual increases by union contract on Jan. 1.
Those union employees include nine plant workers, three street crew employees and one temporary employee, according to Yingling.
In other matters at the authority's February meeting, the authority decided to reimburse one of its customers $2,865 for making what Yingling called "an error."
Authority street crew members were assigned to indicate how close GPASA sewer lines and a lateral were to a property owned by Mark O'Toole. Those measurements were given to a contractor, but they were incorrect, according to Yingling.
"We didn't allow for the depth of the manhole, so we were around 7 to 8 foot off the mark. It was an error on the authority's part," Yingling said.
"It's unfortunate that we didn't perform our duties effectively and, as the chairman, I certainly apologize to them, and I would entertain a motion to pick up the cost," Lipton said.