Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 30, 1993 TAG: 9306300125
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
City Council went along with Director Suzanne Glass's request Monday to add $6,500 to her department's 1993-94 budget to pay for 5 percent salary increases for six of the department's nine employees.
The state pays 80 percent of the department's budget, and the city pays the rest. Glass told council that the state would pick up its 80 percent share of the raises starting in December, leaving the city to cover the remaining 20 percent.
The annual increases will mean another $835 to $886 a year for the workers. "We're still funded at the rate we were funded in 1986-87," Glass told council.
She said the department needs to double its eligibility work force - from four to eight - according to state standards. She said low salaries have contributed to her department's high turnover for several years.
Eligibility workers in the Radford office start at $16,700 a year, and social workers at $17,728. Glass said her department "is understaffed and underpaid by anybody's standards," given its increasing caseload.
City Welfare Board Chairman Doyle Barton agreed. "It's almost scary to hold a Welfare Board meeting," he told council, citing an "intense demand on services."
Board member and City Councilman Bobby Nicholson said he had "mixed emotions" about the request, which passed 4-0. He said the city was being penalized for its "very conservative approach" toward the department, adding that he didn't like to see the city forced to assume the state's responsibility.
The ordinance must pass two council readings before it's final.
In other action, council gave first approval to an increase in city electricity rates to match an Appalachian Power Co. rate increase that became effective May 4, pending final state approval. Council must vote once more on the measure before the increase can take effect. If it's approved, an average residential power bill would go up by about $4 a month. The city hasn't increased electricity rates since 1987.
Councilman David Worrell dissented, saying he wouldn't consider voting for the rate increase until the State Corporation Commission approves the new Apco schedule.
Electric Utility Director Bill Willis has told council the city already is paying an increased wholesale rate, effective last fall, for power it buys from Apco and resells to city customers. He has estimated the city would lose about $50,000 in additional revenues for every month it delays in increasing its own rates.
In other action, council passed several money bills, including:
$10,008 as Radford's share of a Community-based Corrections Plan study.
$7,491 for the parks commission for capital improvements.
$30,000 for for alum sludge disposal at the city water-treatment plant.
$2,230 to match a grant to DiscoveryWorks, an educational group.
$2,280 in additional money for the city's Local Emergency Planning Commission.
$995 as the city's share of a regional human services needs assessment.
Council set July 26 as the date for a public hearing on Calvary Baptist Church's request for a special-use permit for building expansion.
by CNB