ST. CLAIRSVILLE — After some debate and a lengthy executive session in a prior meeting, City Council voted 5-2 to expand the job title of billing clerk Anita Robinson — with a significant increase in pay.

Council members Beth Oprisch, Terra Butler, Perry Basile, Mike Smith and Mark Bukmir voted in favor of abolishing the utility office manager/assistant finance/IT post and creating the position of utility manager. Council members Frank Sabatino and Linda Jordan voted against.

Sabatino asked who initially proposed a $13,000 pay increase, raising the salary from $39,000 to $52,000 a year. Finance Director Annette Williams said she had made the suggestion and spoken with Mayor Kathryn Thalman about the matter.

“When I came into office here (last January), I saw that Anita was doing basically a supervisory position with her status and pay being only a collection clerk,” Williams said.

The debate has been ongoing for the past month, with Sabatino, Jordan and Bukmir voting down motions to dispense with the three readings in order to pass an emergency ordinance. During Tuesday’s vote, Bukmir said he would be in favor so long as he was assured the city had sufficient funds for the change to Robinson’s position.

Afterward Oprisch, who ran the Tuesday teleconference meeting since Council President Jim Velas was unable to participate, said Robinson has been working for the city for close to 10 years and has been managing the office for more than three years.

“She has stepped in and she is doing a fantastic job,” Oprisch, who has been utility committee chairwoman, said. “We need to compensate her for what she’s actually doing. … The city is lucky to have her as an employee.”

Oprisch said the office’s duties have further expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Anita’s gone above and beyond, trying to help customers get the different help out there to help them manage their utility bills. She’s just done a phenomenal job working with the public,” she said.

In other employee matters, the city will continue to compensate employees who have been exposed to coronavirus and must stay home until the receive negative test result. The city was not obligated to do so, since the Family First Coronavirus Relief Act that mandated six days of paid leave expired in December and it has not yet been renewed.

The issue is not covered in the city’s contract with employees.

“No one expected a pandemic,” Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood said.

Jordan said she had earlier inquired if the employees had to present proof, but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act seemed to preclude this. Greenwood said he would continue to review cases so they would not be abused.

Council also approved donating an older police cruiser to the Belmont police department. Butler, Oprisch, Smith and Basile voted in favor and Bukmir, Sabatino and Jordan voted against. Bukmir and Sabatino said the vehicle should be auctioned, even though it would likely raise little money for the city.

Police Chief Matt Arbenz thanked an anonymous donor for a gift of $5,000 to the K-9 fund.

Council also heard from Betty Jo Sproul, a nurse contracted by the city to conduct COVID-19 tests on employees. She started testing Nov. 20. Since that time, she has held 16 testing days and given 107 tests, with seven positives and two questionable results.

Council meets virtually at 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month. Any member of the public can arrange to call in and speak at a future council meeting. The rules can be found at stclairsville.com.