Perry Twp. officials debate spending
PERRY TWP. – Another monthly meeting saw another round of questions and arguments Tuesday over facts and figures and money the township would save by not retaining supervisor Adam Muccioli as a working roadmaster. Supervisor Janet Galla presented her estimated figure that the township would save $23,100 during the course of the year by not having Muccioli as roadmaster. She stated that a full-time employee costs the township $38,700 a year, while a part-time worker costs only $15,600.
Galla said that she had taken into account the hiring of additional part-time employees to assist with work. However, she discounted the amounts spent on outside contractors, who would be needed regardless of who isemployed.
She also noted that she didn’t compare overtime situations because of recent mild winter conditions.
“I didn’t think it would be a good comparison. It wouldn’t be comparing apples to apples,” Galla said.
However, resident Nick Muccioli said his own estimates indicate that without his father working as roadmaster, the township will end up spending $7,000 more than last year, based on the $16,247 spent in the first quarter of last year on wages and benefits.
Resident Tony Springer disagreed, saying, “You just can’t assume based on the first quarter. …First-quarter expenses can’t prove anything.”
Supervisor A.J. Boni said the pipe-cleaning and installation work the contractors performed isn’t a normal monthly expense. He then asked township residents to wait until the end of the year before passing judgment.
When Adam Muccioli asked if the township would continue to have only one working roadmaster, Galla said decisions on future full-time workers would be based on available money.
Also under payroll issues, the subject of lunch hour restrictions was raised again.
Auditor Pam Newmeyer asked if travel time to and from job sites was included in the allotted lunchtime.
Boni and township worker Joe Kulikoski both said they usually eat their lunches while working or on the job site.
Boni noted that on the days that he takes longer lunches, he works later. “I think this township more than gets its time out of me,” he said.
The supervisors conducted the following business:
n Told two residents that the township will not involve itself in their civil property dispute, other than to see that sewage issues are resolved.
n Debated paving roads this year. Muccioli noted that with $171,000 in the state liquid fuels account, the worst roads should be resurfaced, but Boni disagreed. Galla suggested reviewing the budget and the money needed and deciding after that discussion. In the interim, the board voted to apply for a grant to repair dirt and gravel roads.
n Announced the receipt of a $20,000 state grant for phase two of the waterline extension on North Liberty Street. The board also noted the receipt of a $10,000 county liquid fuels award for repairing the shoulder on Memorial Drive and resurfacing Falbo Road, which was lost in a flood last year.