Nine City Council candidates discuss the salaries of city employees who make over $100,000, the salary survey requested by citizens, and the hiring of Don Penman, Assistant City Manager.
Among matters discussed at City Council meeting: new lighting systems for the tennis courts; salary increases for part-time employees; code enforcement.
City employees press council for stepped up salary talks. Representatives of the three employee groups told council that negotiations have bogged down.
Arcadia police and firefighters have voted to defer a portion of their salaries and health benefits to help close the city's budget shortfall. In total, employee pay and benefit deferments will free up about $300,000. The city is trying to close a $600,000 deficit this fiscal year in its $48 million general fund budget.
City Council approved introduction of an ordinance allowing the city to sell industrial development bonds for the Chicago Park industrial area. The area's history is discussed.
Shortly before the city cut $400,000 in salaries and programs to help close a nearly $1 million budget shortfall, the city's managers and supervisors asked the City Council to consider giving them what they termed long-overdue raises.
City Council approved a 12% pay increase for City Clerk June Alford. The raise comes just as city voters are considering changing the city clerk's office from an elected one to an employee position.
The City Council asked Bill Woolard, 50, the City's Planning Director and Employee of the Year in 1993, to resign last month, then rehired him a week later as a temporary consultant.
Arcadia City Council has accepted a grant for $42,026 from the MTA in Proposition C funds to help operate Arcadia Transit. Other City Council items were discussed.