Township union employees to see nearly $50,000 added to payroll in 2016

By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
After a year’s worth of work, Orion Township adopted findings from a job analysis evaluation report that will ultimately raise union employees? payroll by about $50,000.
The study by Human Capital Resources Inc. will affect not only the township’s budget going forward, it will also affect how the township classifies its employees.
‘I have confidence that the study was done very thoroughly. When you dive into things, it does seem to back itself up,? trustee John Steimel said.
Every township job description was analyzed based on point values. The study found that some jobs were not properly classified, so some people are getting pay raises, and some job descriptions are calling for pay decreases.
Supervisor Chris Barnett promised union employees last year, however, that no current employee will suffer a pay cut.
‘As long as you are working here, we will hold your class of pay. The only event that would change that is if you retired or quit and the position became vacant.?
Trustees approved the study, which will bump the union salary payroll up by $43,971.20, as effective’January 1, 2016’with a 5-2 vote. Trustees Neal Porter and Donni Steele cast the dissenting votes. ?
Pay rates of the department heads were not taken into consideration, however. Trustees are working on the current budget adjustments for next year and Barnett said these non-union employees would probably ‘see a little something.?
The study also recommended splitting the planning and zoning department from the building department into separate departments. Building Official Randy McClure will remain the department head director, and previous Planning and Zoning Administrator Tammy Girling will be promoted to the Planning and Zoning Director.