Sep. 15—Union members of Greensburg's recreation and public works and operations staffs will see annual pay hikes under a new five-year contract.
City council this week approved the contract with Teamsters Local 30 that runs from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2027.
The 21 workers included in the bargaining unit will receive the largest wage increase, a 6% hike, in the contract's first year. Their pay will increase by 3% each in years two and three and by 3.5% each in the final two years.
After two years of employment with the city, the union members receive additional longevity pay. That annual amount will increase from $70 to $100.
"Everybody was very cooperative" in negotiating the contract, said Mayor Robb Bell. "Everybody was able to give a little bit and everybody got a little bit. In the end, I think everybody was happy."
New code officer hired
In another personnel move, the city hired a new full-time code enforcement officer, Josh Steele, at a salary of $54,000. His addition to the staff comes in the wake of code enforcement supervisor Dave Wodoslawsky's Aug. 26 retirement. But Wodoslawsky is continuing as a part-time enforcement officer, at $25 per hour, through the end of the year.
Alycia Ferrett also remains on board as a full-time enforcement officer.
Steele had been employed with North Huntingdon Township. Greensburg Councilman Gregory Mertz said he brings valuable experience in community planning as well as code enforcement.
"Code enforcement is something we hear a lot about from our residents, whether its property maintenance or fire safety," said Mertz. "The mayor and council have been talking about how we can grow that office and improve our reaction time and services."
City officials are working to develop a blight mitigation plan while also updating Greensburg's comprehensive plan. Council is expected to approve the latter plan by the year's end.
2 tax appeals settled
Council on Monday approved settlements of tax assessment appeals by owners of two commercial properties in the city.
One of the settlements sets an implied fair market value of $275,000 for the five-story Bank Trust Building located at 41 N. Main St., at the corner of Otterman Street.
EW Investment Group of Luxor had appealed the previous market value of $732,556 cited for the building, arguing in a Westmoreland County Court filing that the amount was "far in excess of the actual consideration paid for the property by a willing buyer to a willing seller."
The other settlement accepts a fair market value of $600,000 for First Commonwealth Bank's East Hills branch office at 750 E. Pittsburgh St. The property's fair market value for 2021 previously was cited at more than $1.1 million; First Commonwealth had sought to reduce that amount to $500,000.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .