T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK St. Clairsville Councilwoman Linda Jordan comments on the success of the city’s recent Community Day.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The city council took stock of summer events and projects and approved a raise for non-unionized employees during its regular Monday meeting.

The council unanimously passed an ordinance to increase the yearly compensation of non-elected, non-union city employees who have been employed for more than six months. Council members Beth Oprisch, Mike Smith, J. Mark Bukmir, Jim Velas, Perry Basile, Linda Jordan and President Tim Porter presided. Frank Sabatino was absent.

Safety and Service Director Jim Zucal said the raises will affect 12 employees, including supervisors; department heads; and himself. The total is $20,000. The employees who have worked for fewer than six months will be eligible for a similar raise when they pass that mark. The ordinance will go into effect immediately.

Zucal said the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees received July 1 its raise of 3 1/2 percent. He said that group and the police department received similar raises last year. For the two years prior to that, the unionized workers got raises of 3 percent.

Oprisch and Basile suggested passing the ordinance in three readings during multiple meetings to allow further discussion. However, Finance Director Cindi Henry said passing it during Monday night’s meeting would eliminate the need to retroactively apply the raises. The council held a brief executive session prior to its vote.

“The mayor and Mr. Zucal have assembled a good crew,” Bukmir said. “From all accounts, everybody works as a team. Things seem to be going well. We do need to make sure that we do have the money in the coffers obviously to bay these raises, but I’m the opinion that if you have good people, and you trust those people to do good jobs for our city, I think it’s no more than fair to show the gratitude of a pay raise.”

“I wanted to make sure there was parity,” Oprisch said afterward. “Management certainly does a good job.”

“I feel I’d like to slow things down at times, listen to some facts and be able to ask questions,” Basile said. “I wanted to hear more about the subject we’re voting on … I think they deserve the raises. They work hard.”

In other matters, Zucal said recent street paving work was largely complete and within a $249,000 budget. The asphalt is laid down and crack and edge sealing remain. A new catch basin and risers also have been installed. A total of 12 portions of streets were paved, covering about 27,000 square yards. Council members reported positive feedback from residents on the paving work.

The council also passed the expected budget for 2019. Henry said she expected the same carryover of $700,000 going into 2019 as was seen in 2018. However, any budget would be dependent on the state budget.

“We’re at the halfway point,” she said. “(The budget) is a very obsolete item that some counties have done away with. Our county, however, still requires us to do it.”

Council also discussed the successful Community Day held June 30. Mayor Terry Pugh thanked Jordan for her work in organizing the event and in singing the national anthem.

“We did have a nice turnout in spite of the terrifically hot weather,” Jordan said. “We’d like to thank everybody who volunteered, the vendors and event-goers. Everybody who supported.”

“It was hot, but it was nice,” Porter said.

Jordan said the recreation board will meet at 4:30 p.m. July 15 at the recreation center.

Also, the next summer concert will be held at the city amphitheater from 7-9 p.m.

The grand opening for the city’s new nature trail also will be at noon July 11 behind Memorial Park.

Oprisch also said a phone number is being placed on utility bills for after-hours utility issues and non-emergency calls. The number is 740-695-0123.