South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens is appointing a committee of citizens, elected officials and city employees to examine the city's pay scale.
Mullens made the announcement during Thursday evening's City Council meeting.
A total of seven to 10 people will serve on the committee, Mullens said.
He named former Council Finance Chairman Jeff Means and former city employee and current Yeager Airport director Rick Atkinson as citizen representatives.
Council President Kathleen Walker and Ward 6 Councilman Bob Lilly were appointed elected official representatives.
Mullens said yet-to-be-named representatives of the police and fire unions and other city workers also will be on the committee, as will City Treasurer Hannah Pettitt.
The mayor said city employees have received a pay increase each of the last eight years but only received one across-the-board pay increase. That was eight years ago.
Mullens said he is asking the committee to conduct an in-depth study. If the committee determines pay should be increased, Mullens said he wants the committee to recommend how to pay for it.
The committee will report to the Finance Committee and city council will ultimately make the final decision, he said.
In other action Thursday evening, council unanimously gave final approval to an ordinance that permits the sale of a lot the city owns in Spring Hill.
According to the ordinance, the city acquired Lot 11 Block "P" in Spring Hill from the state for back taxes. Prior to the meeting City Attorney Michael Moore said the lot is in the 5000 block of Kentucky Street and Mullens said the city paid $4,400.
The ordinance said the narrow lot is visible from MacCorkle Avenue and "needed to be cleaned to improve the safety, aesthetics and economic development potential of the neighborhood."
Mullens said prior to the meeting that the city demolished a dilapidated house on the lot after purchasing the property.
The ordinance noted that a sale would transfer the responsibility for property maintenance to others; would relieve the city of liability that could arise from its ownership; would not have a negative effect on services; would permit the city to recoup the purchase price of the property; and would return the lot to the list of taxable property.
Mullens said after the meeting that the lot is in the process of being sold to Phil McComas, a neighbor, for $4,400.
During announcements, Mullens:
Said the city is taking over the nutrition program for South Charleston's senior citizens.
Praised Public Works Director Gerald Burgy and Sanitation Board Director Steve DeBarr for the work they and their crews performed during the recent rains. Mullens, the city's former director of public works, said the preventative maintenance program developed by Burgy and DeBarr is outstanding.
During department head reports:
Fire Chief John Taylor said the city's fire rating by the Insurance Service Office Inc., known as ISO, has improved from 3 to 2.
"Less than 1,000 fire departments in the nation are rated 2," he said. "If a homeowner's insurance uses the ISO rating," the improved rating "could save the home owner money on their insurance."
Burgy said the Tournament Time baseball tournament scheduled July 24 to 26 at Little Creek Park has sold out all of the rooms in the city's hotels and will result in over $350,000 in city business and occupation tax revenue.
A similar tournament over the July 4 weekend also resulted in increased economic activity, Burgy said. Mullens said the city's convention and visitors bureau is starting to zoom in on the youth athletics market.
City Attorney Michael Moore said an easement is in the hands of The Dow Chemical Co.'s attorney. The easement would permit a beautification project along the east end of MacCorkle Avenue.
Recreation Director Arnett Hoston said youth football applications are being accepted.
During a Finance Committee meeting prior to the council meeting:
Mullens discussed funding for the $2.3 million fire station being built across from the library and adjacent to the existing South Charleston Fire Station No. 1.
He said rather than being financed with a bond issue, as the Daily Mail previously reported, the city has arranged a revolving line of credit with Huntington Banks.
The expectation is that the city will build the station on a pay-as-you-go basis except when the city has special cash-flow needs.
"We don't want any long-term debt," Mullens said.
The mayor said Carlton Lee is no longer city manager but is working for the city on a contract basis.
"I'm paying him $15,000 a year" to manage the fire station project and the city's insurance issues, Mullens said. "I'm thrilled to death he agreed to do it."
The city is moving its accounts from Chase Bank to City National Bank, Mullens said. "Their fee structure skyrocketed," he said of Chase. The city solicited bids from the banks that have offices in South Charleston and picked City National. "They gave us the best fee structure, the best rates," he said.
Council President Kathleen Walker did not attend Thursday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 on the second floor of City Hall on D Street.