By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

A compromise solution to the issue of summer help was arrived at Tuesday night during the full Galion City Council meeting. Council members voted to amend the staffing ordinance and added two seasonal employees in the Sewer Department at a maximum cost of $18,000.

The Finance Committee tabled a proposal last week over concerns of hiring summer help for mowing because costs exceeded the committee’s expectations.

These two positions, which will mean a maximum financial outlay of $18,000, were made because the sewer budget had funds in it that could support this measure without needing to appropriate new money. The Sewer Department is also the department that has fallen behind after a series of internal promotions in the city has left that department short-handed.

These seasonal workers would primarily be tasked with mowing duties, leaving more skilled labor to perform duties more in line with their capabilities. The logic behind the move was never in contention; the means of achieving this end and the proposed cost were the sticking points.

“I agree with Dr. Fellner and the mayor,” Councilman Mike Richart said. “We need to utilize folks that have the skills where they’re really needed rather than have them sit on a lawn mower.”

Councilwoman Susan Beach also agreed about the prudence of having skilled workers doing skilled labor, but she once again expressed being “disappointed” that the job was not being contracted out, and called it something that “could have been researched.”

Mayor Tom O’Leary countered that the collective bargaining agreement, and the public employee unions, looked very unfavorably on any city work being contracted out.

“I can’t believe their executive committee would have allowed that,” O’Leary said.

He also expressed his distaste for hiring through temp agencies, something he also expressed at the finance meeting.

“I’m not interested in contracting out to temp agencies for city work,” O’Leary stated.

In paving news, State Route 61 is now open, and O’Leary reported that the Hesby Drive project is advancing well. The city is looking at budgets for paving the other streets around town in need of resurfacing beyond those involved in this summer’s large projects. If every one of those streets were to be paved this year, some sort of temporary financing will need to be accessed.

Tuesday was Eric Webber’s final council meeting. Webber is moving to the Toledo area for his career, and as such had to vacate his council seat. Council will be reviewing the applicants for his seat starting Monday. O’Leary and Council President Carl Watt both commended and thanked him for his service.