Police salaries, demolished buildings discussed in Wellsburg
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WELLSBURG -- A proposal to raise pay for the city's police officers and an update on structures demolished through a new state program were among matters discussed by Wellsburg Council members at their monthly committees meeting Thursday.
City Police Chief Mike Allman noted his department is down to three officers, with others having left for jobs in the Brooke County Sheriff's Department or other area law enforcement agencies.
It's been a recurring problem over the years in the city, which also is served by the sheriff's department and local detachment of the West Virginia State Police.
But Allman suggested council can help to address it by raising the starting wages for new hires as well as salaries for its current officers through measures he said wouldn't require a large increase to his department's budget.
The current starting wage for a Wellsburg officer is $17 per hour, which increases to $19 per hour after a probationary period about a year long that includes training through the West Virginia State Police Academy or the newer Fairmont State University Police Training Academy.
Allman suggested raising wages to $22 per hour to start and following the probationary period, an hourly wage of $24, which is closer to the starting wage for the sheriff's department.
He said certified officers, who received prior training, could be paid $24 to start since the city wouldn't need to pay for their training.
Allman suggested he could hire one full-time officer and two part-time officers within the proposed pay structure.
Some months ago, he suggested hiring provisional officers, who would be hired for limited terms, such as 90 days.
Following Thursday's meeting, Allman said he hasn't abandoned that idea, noting it could attract certified officers employed by other departments.
The matter is expected to be considered at council's next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 9.
In other business, City Manager Steve Maguschak advised 16 dilapidated structures have been razed and he will submit about $130,000 in demolition and related costs for reimbursement through a pilot program of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Wellsburg is one of 21 municipalities chosen to participate in the program.
Maguschak said two other houses, including one on Main Street severely damaged by fire, were removed at the expense of their owners, who had approached Edgco Inc., the Lansing, Ohio business that had been hired by the city.
He said City Solicitor Ryan Weld has targeted another 15 more structures for the program's next round and has secured the deeds for three of them.
In order for the structures to be included in the program, the city was required to assume ownership of them.
Weld said earlier an inability to pay for repairs or removal of the dilapidated structures was a strong incentive for many owners to transfer them to the city.
Maguschak said there are plans for the new vacant lots to be sold in a public auction, with minimum bids to be determined.
In other business:
• Maguschak said he's received four bids, ranging from $27,839 to about $134,000, for surveillance cameras that may be posted at city parks and outside city facilities, and will present them for council's consideration at its next meeting.
The bids were spurred partly by a desire to upgrade cameras currently posted at local parks, where vandalism has been a recurring problem.
• Fourth Ward Councilman Fred Marino suggested council members compile a list of things that need to be addressed in the city, such as potholes and drainage problems, that could be consulted periodically to gauge progress.
The idea was supported by 3rd Ward Councilman Tom Gaudio, who said, "At the beginning of every year, we should set goals. You're passionate about cleaning up the town. Everybody's passionate about something."
• Gaudio complained of vehicles being driven through a vacant lot near Sixth Street, leaving ruts in the ground.
Maguschak and Allman suggested signs could be posted to deter such action.
He suggested the east-west alley between it and another vacant lot beside it could be closed to create a larger green space for the city.
• Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher complained of Dumpsters blocking streets and alleys for extended periods, suggesting a time limit should be placed for them.
Maguschak said those left in roadways over night should have reflective stickers so they can be seen more easily, noting there was an incident of a woman running into one in Mingo Junction.
Fletcher also suggested the city purchase a backup generator to power City Hall to prevent operations there from being disrupted.
In recent weeks, much of the city has been without electricity during unexpected outages as well as others held to accommodate repairs to electrical facilities.