GREENVILLE — The Greenville City Council approved collective bargaining agreements with the city’s union employees during its session Tuesday night.
Council passed ordinances ratifying agreements with the Greenville Patrol Officers Association; Professional Firefighters Association; Professional Firefighters Association Emergency Communications Operators; Maintenance Employees Association; and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
The agreements are valid for three years — from Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2018. The pay for unionized city workers is slated to rise at various percentages each year, with annual wage increases ranging from 2 to 2.5 percent:
• Emergency Communications: 2.25 percent (2016), 2 percent (2017 and 2018)
• Police: 2.25 percent (2016 and 2017), 2.5 percent (2018)
• Fire: 2 percent (2016-2018)
• Maintenance: 2.25 percent (2016 and 21017), 2.5 percent (2018)
• Operating Engineers: 2.25 percent (2016 and 21017), 2.5 percent (2018)
City Auditor Roxanne Willman said a crucial element was getting all the unions to agree to three-year contracts for the sake of uniformity.
“We’ve got them [all] onto a three-year term,” she said. “We were trying to get all the unions together. It went very smoothly this year.”
During his report to council, Mayor Mike Bowers reminded citizens that the Street Department’s leaf pickup will continue through December 18, but asked that residents do not include limbs or brush with their leaves as the period for limb and brush pickup has ended and they will no longer be collected.
Safety/Service Director Curt Garrison told council that the city’s water plant on Ohio Route 502 will temporarily shut down for 12 hours beginning on the evening of December 7 in order to install a new master meter.
“We only have 12 hours of storage above ground,” said Garrison. “One of the reasons we’re doing this at night is because, obviously, our water usage is less in the evenings.”
Garrison said that the city has a contingency plan in place if the project hits any snags and does not anticipate any interruption in water service to residents that night.
In other business, council approved an ordinance authorizing $15,000 for the removal of numerous dead trees at the city park, described as ones which pose an immediate threat to public safety and structures there. A further $150 was earmarked for new tree planting.
Council also passed a resolution authorizing the Safety/Service Director to advertise for bids for traffic signal installation for the city’s Ohio and East Main Street project.
A public hearing was held to hear a recommendation from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to amend zoning for the Bickel House, formerly the Gade Nursing Facility house, at 208 Sweitzer Street.
The property owner, Michael Jones, is seeking approval to amend zoning from “Special Use” to “Suburban Residential 3,” which would allow two-family dwellings with a conditional use permit.
No one present spoke for or against the zoning modification. Legislation to effect the change will be drafted for council’s consideration at a future meeting.
The Greenville City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The meetings are held on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 100 Public Square. The public is invited to attend.
