Goodrich- Taxpayer money and differing opinions on how it should be spent brought some residents out to speak to their local government last Monday.
Debate among those in attendance and the council flared when the topic of discussion turned to a proposed pay increase for village employees.
Councilmembers Dave Lucik and Patty Wartella were on the advisory committee for the issue, but had differing opinions on what course of action should be pursued.
Lucik proposed a 2.5 percent increase in wages for village employees, while Wartella adamantly opposed any increase, asking instead a pay freeze be placed on the employees.
‘The pay raise at this point in time is not warranted. The pay raise that Jakki Sidge was asking for is over and above what I could ever agree upon if we were in good standing with our budget,? said Wartella.
Several in the audience commented that in an economy where many are struggling to keep their jobs, awarding a pay raise was inappropriate.
York and Lucik disagreed.
‘I just feel that these people work hard. I trust them, they do a good job. Sure, the economy is bad right now …(but) as a public worker, people are always trying to keep you down,? said York.
Ultimately, the council voted in favor of the pay freeze proposed by Wartella in a vote of 3-2, with York and Lucik dissenting, with the agreement the matter would be discussed again in October after local construction projects were completed and the budget re-examined.
Wartella said had it not been for the public support of her vote she doubts her motion would have passed.
‘I want more people to come to meetings and give feedback on how taxpayer money should be spent,? said Wartella. ‘This is what (residents) should understand… I’m fighting for their livelihoods while the other four (council members) want to spend all their money.?
And while York said he was not necessarily in support of Lucik’s recommendation, he was still opposed to Wartella’s.
‘I just think they should have something,? said York.
York added he felt many in the audience had come because they want to criticize the council.
‘The only intention of those people is to try and find fault with the village government right now,? said York.
Moreover, York asked why the people who were upset about a proposed increase for village workers had not been equally upset by a recent pay raise granted to township employees (‘Township employees, fire chief, receive pay hike? The Citizen, April 2, Page 13).
However, York said he does not think the refusal to increase wages will result in village employees resigning from their posts.
‘They just want to be appreciated,? said York. ‘They’ve been working over 20 years, they’re doing their job? they just want to be appreciated. To actually get up and leave, I don’t think that they will.?
Wartella maintains she was justified in her decision.
‘I didn’t ask for pay cuts, I didn’t ask for benefits to be cut,? said Wartella. ‘I just asked for it to be frozen at this time.?