Non-union municipal workers get salary bump

By Nicole Kleinsteuber
Prince Edward County non-union employees will see a little extra on their pay stubs in the new year.

Mayor Peter Mertens said council isn’t over paying staff; it’s just being fair.
“We’ve done the studies and we found our staff has fallen severely behind over the last couple of years,” said Mertens in an interview.  “They haven’t had the increases that a lot of other municipalities have.”
Mertens said the municipality is in a competitive situation for municipal staff.  Last summer, staff went through an organizational restructuring and Mertens said – “our expectations from staff are a lot higher.”
“In order for us to have those expectations and build this organization we have to be fair in what we pay them,” said Mertens.
He said the municipality is experiencing a shortage in qualified staff because all through the province municipal employees are retiring in large numbers which is forcing the County to compete for some of their top positions.
“Without a pay structure that’s completive to our neighbours around us we’re going to be at a disadvantage,” said Mertens.
During the meeting councillor Dianne O’Brien requested holding the decision off until the 2013 budget meetings.
In a recorded vote 10-5 council approved the salary increase without deferring the matter.