Hurley City Council votes to fund squad car, select wages

By P.J. GLISSON

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Hurley — At a Monday special meeting of the Hurley City Council, members voted to raise wages of several select staff members relating to pending 2024 budgets from various departments.

They also approved the purchase of a new squad car for the Hurley Police Department.

The action included increasing hourly wages to $19 for two of the city’s administrative assistants and to $20 for firefighters. Seasonal student workers also will rise from $11 to $12 per hour next summer.

“In my opinion, they’re both grossly underpaid,” said Clerk/Treasurer Stacey Wiercinski of the administrative assistants, whom she said would have earned $17.34 and $18.20 per hour after the city’s 2% increase in overall employee wages.

In relation to his firefighters, Fire Chief Brock Swartz said, “Nobody’s here for the money,” but he also lobbied for them to receive greater compensation for a job that requires showing up without warning as needed.

Council members also voted to increase the Fire Department’s miscellaneous equipment budget by $1,000.

In addition, the council voted to approve each of the individual department budgets, although some tweaking still remains to be done in a future, as-yet-unscheduled budget session.

“We did get word last week that health insurance took a 10% jump, so that’s reflected in everyone’s budget as well,” said the clerk.

Library Director Leone Sobrack said her expenses rose somewhat due to increased totals for books and audiovisual needs.

She added that the library’s summer sessions are most popular when they include creatures and “hands-on” activities, which increase the costs.

Public Works Director Scott Santini emphasized that his next piece of equipment to be replaced will be a 2017 Chevy vehicle that he expects to keep until 2027. He said that his department has been in the habit of refurbishing trucks as much as possible “so it saves us money.”

Councilman Thomas Conhartoski suggested that, at a later point, perhaps the council could establish a road repair fund, and Councilman Jamey Francis said that a related referendum might be in order.

Santini said the city should investigate all financial possibilities.

In discussing the police budget, Chief Chris Colassaco said his budget reflects increases in both gasoline and maintenance.

Council members voted specifically to finance the squad car of the chief’s choice: a Chevy Tahoe at a cost of $62,562 when fully installed.

He said that his department must replace cars more often than the county because his staff is undergoing a lot of “stop-and-go” traffic.

As of the start of Monday’s meetings, each department’s 2024 budget total was as follows: Police, $785,959; Public Works, $518,379; Clerk, $175,762; Library, $60,630; and Fire Department, $55,400. Adjustments were expected in line with Monday’s votes and continuing tweaks.

According to Wiercinski, budget details will not be finalized until November when the council then is expected to approve it in its final form.

Led by Mayor Joanne Bruneau, the budget workshop directly followed a Finance Committee meeting led by Chairman Stephanie Innis-Smith.