Fayette County employees could be getting a boost in their pay this year after all.
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider at its Oct. 22 regular meeting a two-percent cost-of-living increase effective Nov. 1 for eligible county employees. Approval would require a $471,457 budget amendment, according to a staff report.
This was proposed earlier this year as part of regular budget discussions but was removed from the FY2016 budget that was ultimately approved. It was the key component that led to the first two budget motions failing due to a 2-2 vote, as Steve Brown and Randy Ognio were against the pay increase while Charles Oddo and David Barlow sought to approve it.
This time there will be five commissioners voting on it. The overall budget was approved June 25, after former commissioner Pota Coston became too ill to continue in her role and just one week before she died. It was one of several issues that saw tie votes before Charles Rousseau took office after winning the recent special election.
Last year was the first time in seven years that county employees received a cost-of-living adjustment.
Another issue coming back before the board at the Oct. 22 meeting is how to display the motto “In God We Trust” in the commissioners’ public meeting room. The matter was tabled after some discussion at the Sept. 24 meeting.
The decision to erect such a display was made last December and approved unanimously. The current discussion is about just how to do it.
Last month the board considered three designs submitted by the Public Art Committee, with the recommended display stretching behind the dais between the two video monitors. Rousseau, having just taken office, asked for more time to consider the idea, and Oddo agreed, saying he had concerns about the possible size of the display. This month the board is considering 14 options of various sizes and styles.
New business at this meeting includes consideration of Tyrone’s annexation of four lots that would be rezoned from commercial to industrial; a recommendation to appoint Charles McCollum to the county’s Recreation Commission; a $699,497 bid award for intersection improvements at Harp Road and Hwy. 85; and consideration of staff’s request to change the protocol on creating and amending county policies and procedures.
Public hearings are scheduled on a proposed ordinance amendment that would allow a barber shop or beauty salon as a home occupation and another amendment eliminating buffers for non-residential uses that abut residential zoning districts.
The consent agenda includes a recommendation to authorize the Fayette County Juvenile Court to accept a $99,000 grant award from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
