Administrative Salary Increases Spark Debate Among Ross Commissioners

Ross Township Commissioners voted 6-3 Monday to approve salary increases for all township employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Commission Board President Grant Montgomery, and commissioners Peter Ferraro and Jerry O'Brien voted no.

Ferraro objected to the wide disparity in raises, which ranged from 2.5 to 17-percent.

"I was never notified for my input on this, I thought they were skewed all over the place," said Ferraro. "I have a problem whenever you only give a three percent on the low end and you’re giving 17-percent on the top end, the long-term employees seem to receive less, and I have a real distinct problem with that."

The salary increases were discussed in executive session, a meeting which neither Ferraro nor Montgomery were able to attend in person. Both men tried to reach the meeting by telephone, but were unsuccessful.

"This is partially my fault," said Ferraro. "We were on the phone and somehow got cut off. We tried to get back in, but it was late at night and there was no one at the township switchboard to route our calls."

Commissioner Dan DeMarco, who voted for the salary increases, did not want to talk specifics.

"It would not be appropriate for me to divulge discussions regarding any Ross Township personnel matters, including the basis for the salary of any employee," he said. "However, I only speak for myself in saying that I believe all of our administrative employees are the finest in regional municipal government. I can say that I took into consideration the salaries of employees in comparable sized municipalities to assist me in discussions on the salaries."

Commissioner Chris Eyster also voted in the affirmative.

"These were merit-based increases in which each of the commissioners present had input. We then voted in a democratic way. I did not agree with all of the decisions, but I respect the process by how we got there," he said. "In one instance, the increase was result of a contract negotiated when that employee was hired." 

Ferraro said he has no problems with the individual employees, but thinks the process of determining salary increases could be improved.

"I believe in rewarding individuals rather than implementing an across-the-board increase," said Ferraro. "That being said, I think there should be a more reasonable range for those increases. The vote is over for this year, I think this should be food for thought for the next go round."

What do you think of how the commissioners handled this year's administrative salaries? Tell us in the comments box below.

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