Council Starts Salary Talks

The city of Chillicothe began talks Wednesday night regarding salaries for elected officials and Mayor Chuck Haney was called to break a tie vote on a proposal to table discussion until the council’s next regular meeting Monday evening at City Hall. The salaries are now being talked about because filing for elected offices opens on Oct. 14 and the city plans to set salaries before the opening day.

After about an hour-long discussion about the salaries of primarily the city clerk, auditor and treasurer, Councilman-at-Large Darrel Rinehart suggested that the council table discussions until the full council is present. The post of 2nd Ward councilman won’t be officially filled until Maurice Zion, whose appointment was confirmed Wednesday night, takes the oath of office at Monday’s meeting. Rinehart’s motion was seconded by 4th Ward Councilwoman Pam Jarding. The remaining two council members — 1st Ward Councilman Earle Teegarden Jr. and 3rd Ward Councilwoman Donna Preszler, voted against the motion. Both had voiced support to set the salaries at a rate lower than what is currently on the books for the positions of clerk, auditor and treasurer.

In starting discussions regarding the salaries, Preszler presented fellow council members with a list of four proposals for all elected officials with the primary differences being found in the salaries for clerk, treasurer and auditor. Salaries for each of those positions, traditionally, have been set at the same rate. Three of the four proposals set salaries anywhere from $36,946.80 with no meeting attendance compensation, to $44,963.48 plus compensation of $50 per meeting they attend. The current salary of these three positions is $41,052, plus meeting wages at a rate of $50 per meeting to produce total wages of $42,252 each, according to information presented by Preszler.

Along with the proposals, Preszler presented information regarding the current salaries of the city’s department managers along with their years of service.

Mayor Appoints Zion as New 2nd Ward Councilman

CAPTION: Maurice Zion.

C-T File Photo

A familiar face will be returning to the Chillicothe City Council next Monday. Maurice Zion, who served as 2nd Ward City Councilman but resigned mid-term in April 2006 because of travel requirements associated with his employment in the private sector, was appointed to the position Wednesday evening during a special council meeting at City Hall.

The appointment was made by Mayor Chuck Haney and unanimously approved by the council. Haney said that Zion had expressed an interest in returning to the council and said that his travel responsibilities have changed. Zion fills the vacancy created by Lonnie Sewell, who resigned because he was moving outside the city limits and, therefore, became ineligible to serve on the council.

He was elected 2nd Ward councilman in 1999, following Jim Valbracht, who had held that post for two years and chose not to seek re-election. Zion, a Republican, was in his fourth term and ran unopposed each time.

In other business Wednesday evening, the council accepted two board resignations: Frank Allen of the golf advisory board; and the Randy Steele of the board of public works. Executive sessions were held prior to and after the council’s regular meeting. No information about those executive sessions was available as of press time.