After about 13 months on the job, the city’s rubbish pit director was given a raise despite a salary freeze among city employees.
Bennie K. Warrington was hired by the city council on Nov. 24, 2015 to operate the city’s rubbish pit at $10.52 an hour. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen recently decided to give Warrington a raise to $12 an hour.
Mayor Diane Delaware was the only board member in opposition of Warrington’s raise because she said there is a salary freeze upon all city employees at this time. She said her objection was because giving one city employee a raise is not fair when others are not eligible because of the salary freeze.
“I wanted him to stay with his original salary,” Delaware said. “If you start giving raises to one person, then you have to give them to everybody. And all salaries within the city are frozen.”
Warrington’s salary was first brought to the table earlier in Monday’s meeting when Delaware requested that the minutes from a December meeting be amended.
“This is an unfortunate situation,” Delaware began, reflecting on the December minutes. “But I have to correct it today.”
In the December minutes, Delaware was recorded as voting in approval of the raise. But she said the minutes were incorrectly recorded.
“My intention was to vote ‘nay,’” Delaware said. “I need my vote recorded correctly in the minutes. Yes, I seconded the motion. But there was an argument that I wanted to end.”
Delaware said she did second the motion to increase Warrington’s salary. But she said it was merely to end the lengthy discussion about the matter so the board could move on to other business.
opposed the salary increase. Her stance did not change during this week’s meeting. The city council approved amending those December minutes, showing that Delaware was opposed to the salary increase. Her stance did not change during this week’s meeting.
Delaware remained the only board member in opposition. Aldermen Aubry Brent Jr., Ron Johnson and Rev. Gregory Robertson were in favor of giving Warrington a raise.
“Salaries are frozen,” Delaware reminded the board. “I stay focused. I don’t change. But that’s good. I’m happy.”
Alderman Dr. Jack Varner recused himself from voting on the matter.
