Brandon Twp.- The township board passed the 2008 budget by a 5-1 vote at a special meeting Dec. 17.
The budget features a 2.5 percent pay raise for all township employees and an additional 10 percent raise for Recreation Director Fred Waybrant. The 10 percent pay hike for Waybrant was the cause of Treasurer Linda Owen’s dissenting vote and a source of contention for a few residents in attendance.
‘I do not think this is the time for a 10 percent raise for one employee,? said Owen, who does support the 2.5 percent raise all employees will receive. ‘We have a lot of good employees and 10 percent is high when people are losing their jobs and homes… I think Fred does a lot of extra work and he does deserve a bonus, but 10 percent is out of line. If we’re going to do it, everyone should get a 10 percent raise.?
Mary Roy, a township resident and owner of the Village Hair Salon, was at the meeting and also voiced opposition to Waybrant’s raise.
‘I think if he got the 2.5 percent raise, that would be fine, but not the 10 percent (in addition),? she said. ‘Everyone is hurting and our taxes are high enough… I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it, but not right now. Way too many people are suffering and a lot of taxpayers are having a hard time and there are tons of foreclosures.?
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp defended the raise, which will increase Waybrant’s salary to $49,550 annually.
‘We have discussed this and Fred had a significant change in duties,? Lapp said. ‘He went from being recreation director to also being in charge of the township park. There are a significant number of headaches that go along with that, and we felt it was appropriate to compensate him.?
Lapp said the raise was discussed at a previous study session and he informally polled the board members and everyone present, including Owen, supported it. He says she changed her tune, but Owen denies this.
‘No one answered,? she said. ‘I didn’t say anything at the budget meeting about the 10 percent raise.?