HIGHFILL — An amendment to Highfill’s 2010 budget was passed on Jan. 12 which could increase employee pay by 3 percent if the mayor and department heads approve the individual raises.
Highfill Mayor Chris Holland brought the amended budget ordinance to the council with the 3 percent pay increase included in it.
According to the approved Dec. 15, 2009 minutes, the council agreed “to keep all salary levels at the 2009 amounts, without any increases.” The minutes state that it was decided that any raises would be discussed at the January council meeting.
The council, at its Jan. 12 meeting, questioned Holland as to why he included the pay raises in the ordinance to amend the budget when they had been taken out by the council.
After some discussion, a motion was passed - with the added vote of Mayor Holland - to suspend the rules, read the ordinance by heading only and pass it on three readings with a single vote.
Councilwoman Sandy Evans opposed the motion. Council members Richard Boles, Toby Lester and James Wiand voted in favor of the motion. Keven Varner was absent. The ordinance was then passed by a 3-1 vote, with Evans voting against it.
News, Pages 1 on 01/27/2010