Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees addressed several personnel and employment issues during their April 25 meeting.
The ongoing effort to fine-tune the job description of Township Manager Tony Burdick was on the agenda for approval by the trustees. City attorney Rob Young and Trustee Matthew Oddy have been preparing the document for several weeks with input from Burdick.
Oddy told his fellow trustees that the description still wasn't as specific as they hoped to make it and further editing and work was necessary. He asked that the item be removed from the agenda as it was not as complete or comprehensive as possible.
“We want this to be as good as it can be and as good as we can make it,” he told his fellow trustees. “We'll bring it back with changes for board consideration.”
Township Clerk Esther Hurst told the board members that a pay discrepancy for the deputy treasurer and clerk had not been accurately increased in the manner previously approved by the trustees. Hurst reminded the trustees that a $3 an hour premium over the contract rate negotiated with the AFSCME staff was approved by the board for the two deputy positions. She said when the new union contract became effective, the pay for the two deputies should have increased to that hourly wage and the $3 an hour premium added.
Trustees expressed their surprise at the situation and agreed unanimously to implement the new wage structure for the two deputies retroactive to the time the new union wage became effective.
In another personnel matter, Trustee Don LaPorte reminded the trustees that Fire Chief Rick Brown was overdue for a pay increase as his contract has not been reviewed for two years. Brown became the first fire chief in township history in 2021.
LaPorte said he would consult with Young regarding a review of the contract to bring back to the board members for approval.
Board members also accepted the resignation of firefighter James Beaumont and approved the hiring of new full-time police officer Christopher Rose. Rose's hiring is contingent on his successfully completing required background, physical, psychological tests.
