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At the Monday, July 16,
Benton Harbor Ci ty Commi -
ion meeting the commi sion
4-3 with one ab tention,
pprove a salary moratorium
to crac down on pay raises,
taking away all control of raises
fromCity Manager Steve Man­
ning.
With the moratorium, the
commi sion will have to be in­
formed and vote on any salary
increases.
Though City officials have
aid repeatedly th city is broke
and doesn't have money for­
minor repairs for streets and
other mi�or thing the city resi­
dent complain- about. it was
revealed Monday night by
Commi ioner Charles
Yarbrough that Manning had
given t 0 city employee large
pay raises wi thoui - the
knowledge of the ci ty commis­
sion.
Yarbrough said it was
brought to hi attention that
recently hired, Marcia Ferris,
Director of In pection was
given a $2,000 -year raise and
Helen Lacy, As i tant Finance
Director was given pay in­
crease of 10,000 a year.
When Mannmg wa a, ked if
it w true, he ref ed to com­
ment, only saying he "doe not
disc personnel problem in
public" ..
ion hal
Yarbrough said Manning
was giving pay raise hen the
Ci ty' S union, Local 1433 w
still t ing to get tbe city to
ag� with their wage increase
demand.
"We're fighting the union
like bell", Yarbrough said, and
"you're giving out a $10,000
raise to one person, that'
crazy." -
Commi ion Steve Wooden
said the commission gave the
ci t Y manager a free hand when
they voted not to continue with
the moratori uin two years ago.
"Before he (Manning) h d to
get the approval from us, but
now he don't because you guys
threw that thing out the window,
saying it was Mob olete", we
didn't need it any more,"
Wooden said.
Commission Kerry Shannon
put motion on the -floor to
place the moratorium on further
pay increases and it was sup­
ported, but Manning said it w
a violation of the city charter.
Mayor Wolf said he agrees
with the City Manager. "It
comes to a point where you have
to let the city manager do hi job
and not call him to account for
everything he does that you
happen to disagree ith," he
said.
A motion wa put on the
Iloor to po tpone the
moratorium for one week and
anag
Mayor Wolf supported it, stat­
ing that be supported it because,
"I ant this commission to have
a one ee cooling off period."
Wolf accused some of the
commi ioners of attacking the
City manager.
"There are a couple of com­
missioners here that seem to be
doing every thing that they po -
ibly could do to discredit our
city m�ger," said Wolf.
"We hired a city man ger to
run this city, - if he wants to
reward good performance in
that matter, and we as a com­
mission approved that line item
on the city budget," be aid.
"That is his right to do that."
Wolf said he was just saying
that the pay rai e - legal aod
the city manager had the
authority to do it.
"If we don't like the job the
city manager i doing, then the
appropriate resolution on the
floor ought to be to terminate
the city manager," id Wolf,
"not to Dickie and dime him to
death with his decisions."
Voting in favor of the alary
moratorium was Commi­
sioners Kerry Shannon, Steve
Wooden, George Wy inger, and
Char le Yarbrough. Voting
against 'it as M-ayor Wolf,
Commissioners Hershel Mc­
Kenzie, and Arnold Smith.
Commi ioner Ralph Crensba
abstained and Commi loner
p� 15
ay policie
Time 'will
v, July 25,
a.m. The
d the Brave
re ponsibility now for the
redeveloping of the City's in­
frastructure and over the City'
Business Growth Center (In­
cubator).
Anthony' duties are being
taking over by newly hired Mar­
cia Ferri , Director of inspec­
tion.
Manning id the city h a
goo working relation witb tbe -
Chamber of Commerce, CEDC
and Benton Charter Township
and other, and as Economic
Development projects develop
"the people or individual or
their taff will handle it."
He rated that Ferri would
be taking over most of the wor
of Anthony' .
Sea Captain" will be hown,
alon With other torie about
boa and water.
Movie for children will be
held on turd y, July 28, at 2
p.m. Showing are: "Harry the
Dirty Dog", "Harry and the
Lad ext Door", and "Let's
Give Kitty A Bath."
Children may join the .
"Going on a Boo Hunt" read­
ing pro r m anytime during
r r, Ii brary hour until
August 4. An award ceremony
will b held at th end of the
ummer for tho e children read­
in 2() oks.
1 Come 011 down to:
JOE'S 11. .... _
WILLIE'S APPLIA
(616) 926-1.936
tone Road - Benton Harbor,
(811) 125-2411
GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW
Call 616/926-7143
ATTOR EY nd COU SELOR AT LAW
ORRIS VI
LEASI
149022.
ing - Ann!lV.r.lAJrI .... __ ----------�--- ....... IIIIiIIIII ... -.
F m Fun-AI �cn�.
WILUA
&
ILLIA
VIDEO PRODUCTION
GRAYUNG L WILLIAMS
Video T' hn cl8n
'DICKEY
REALTY
GROU�
·Evt:rything We Touch,
Tunas to SOLD"
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