Weatherly Borough Council will form a committee to meet with borough employees to discuss issues such as wages, aging equipment and long-term planning in departments.

Mayor/Council President Paul Hadzick invited borough employees to council’s meeting Monday, saying he’d like to introduce them to council members and recognize them as “the most important part of our community.”

“You guys never get recognized,” Hadzick said. “If the power is out, it’s out for a half-hour. If there’s a water line break, you guys fix it quickly. If there’s a sewer break, you fix it. If we have a problem … the police go and fix it.

“I just thought it was time that you guys get recognized, and I’d like council to really consider at some time, if we can, if we open the budget and try to increase the salaries of the employees,” he said.

Hadzick pointed out that the borough employees are underpaid, based on studies that he has reviewed, and also Councilman Norm Richie has looked. Richie agreed that the employees are underpaid.

“It’s pathetic,” Hadzick said. “I want to make it public that you guys are taking the shaft.”

Hadzick said that the employees are underpaid by $10 and $15 an hour, according to the studies. He also checked and there are unions which would be happy to represent the borough’s non-union employees, he said, and the borough might end up paying them $40 an hour, and not $25.

Hadzick asked council for their thoughts, and Councilwoman Theresa D’Andrea thanked the borough employees for the work they do, and their prompt response, unlike other communities.

“Thank you very much,” she said. “You all respect people and we respect you. Thanks for the great job, well done.”

Councilman Joe Cyburt took offense to Hadzick’s comments, saying that they all know who their employees are.

“None of us are blind or stupid,” he said. “I know each and every one. We’ve got great employees.”

Richie pointed out that not many people would go out to a water main break in subzero temperatures, and their employees fixed the problem quickly.

Councilmen Jeffery Miller and Michael Bellizia also expressed their appreciation, but wondered how much it would cost to raise the salaries.

Running the numbers

“Did anybody run any numbers on what this would cost?” Bellizia said. “What are the numbers like? I don’t know. I’m very appreciative. The whole town is.”

Hadzick countered by asking Bellizia if he had a copy of the budget, and Bellizia said he does, but he wants to know how raising the rates would impact that budget.

“When I missed a meeting, the first time in five years, you guys did all kinds of stuff,” Hadzick said. “You raised the rates on water. You raised electric. You raised the sewer rates. I wasn’t here.

“So why don’t you tell me what the rates are, what the impact was, how much money is that going to bring in,” he asked. “Because I don’t know.”

Bellizia explained that the borough had to react to increases imposed upon them, and the borough manager ran matrices on the numbers.

Council had previously stated rates had to be raised due to increases in wholesale electric costs in 13 states in the PJM Interconnection and state environmental mandates.

Hadzick insisted that there were profits in running utilities, especially electric.

“That’s our cash cow,” he said. “If we shut the electric down, we are done. Why aren’t these guys getting compensated out of those profits?”

Council members discussed employee raises and the conversation got heated at one point, with D’Andrea speaking up and telling council members there was no reason for raised voices.

Miller said that council would be willing to work with employees, but the borough can’t afford $10 and $15 raises, as people will pack up and leave the community because they can’t afford to live in town.

Corey Gerhart, who has worked in the electric department for 30 years, said that they get what the borough gives them, unlike the police who have a union that negotiates for them.

Some employees got $1, and others got 50 cents, he said, and ventured that police officers got more than that. The borough’s linemen are the lowest paid not only in the county, but in the state, he said.

“We know we’re in a small community, we get it,” Gerhart said. “But be fair. You’re fair with a union. Just be fair with us. That’s all we’re asking.”

Cyburt asked Richie about the studies, and how much the borough’s wages differed. Richie said that the borough is under by $5 to $7 an hour for similar sized communities, but noted there are other wages that are way higher, too.

Bellizia suggested that council form a committee to meet with employees to discuss the issues on regular basis. They agreed that the borough needs to look at equipment and other issues as well.

Council approved forming a committee to keep the lines of communication open.