SILVERHILL, Alabama --- The Silverhill Town Council implemented a 1 ½ percent cost of living raise for town employees at its meeting Monday night.

The council voted unanimously to approve four separate resolutions, increasing the base salaries for the town’s 10 employees. The council voted on each resolution individually, first to suspend the rules, then to adopt the resolutions, each of which amended a previous resolution approved last year.

All resolutions were approved unanimously. Council member Bert Jones arrived late at Monday’s meeting and was not present to vote on the Ordinances.

The council voted first approved Resolution No. 460, amending Resolution No. 449 for hourly police department employees.

The amendment includes a starting salary of $20,610.64 or an hourly rate of $9.91. After one year, the employee is eligible for a merit promotion to Step 2 and is eligible for another merit promotion the following year.

The employee is eligible for a promotion to Step 4 in two years and Step 5 two years after that. Employees are eligible Step 6, 7 and 8 promotions at three-year intervals, according to the Resolution with a base salary for Step 7 set at $35,814.64 or an hourly rate of $17.21.

Resolution No. 461 amended Resolution No. 448 for utilities superintendent, town clerk/treasurer and police chief.

Starting salary for all three positions is $24,573.87 with Step 2, 3 and 4 promotions at one-year intervals, Step 5 promotion two years following and Step 6, 7, and 8 promotions at three-year intervals with a base salary at Step 7 at $43,769.80 for all three positions.

Resolution No. 462 amends Resolution No. 450 for the assistant utility superintendent with a starting salary of $18,428.10 ($8.86 hourly), utility court clerk with a starting salary of $18,812.53 ($9.04 hourly) and office clerk with a starting salary of $18,122.60 ($8.71 hourly.

Step 2, 3 and 4 promotions are available at one-year intervals with Step 5 an additional two years, and Step 6, 7, and 8 promotions at three-year intervals. Additional merit promotions area available for assistant utility superintendent and utility court clerk at four-year intervals for Step 9, 10, 11 and 12 with a base salary of $40,600 ($19.52 hourly) at Step 11 for assistant utility superintendent and $43,769.80 ($21.04 hourly) for utility court clerk. Base salary at Step 7 for the office clerk position is $32,280.95 or $15.59 hourly.

Resolution No. 463 amends Resolution No. 433 for hourly laborer and utilities employees with a starting salary of $17,290.18 or $8.31 hourly with Step 2, 3 and 4 promotions at one-year intervals, Step 5 and 6 merit promotions at two-year intervals and Step 7 and 8 merit promotions at three-year intervals with a base salary for Step 8 at $32,925.77 or $15.82 hourly.

In other business Monday the council adopted Ordinance No. 400, amending Ordinance No. 379 adopted June 3, 2008 increasing water rates and adding a fire hydrant meter deposit.

The Ordinance was introduced at the council’s meeting March 19 and, by law, was advertised for two weeks before being adopted at Monday’s meeting.

The base charge for the first 2,000 gallons, which would affect most of the town’s residents, was increased $3 per month or from $18.79 to $21.79 for in-town customers, and from $21.05 to $24.05 for out-of-town customers.

Town Clerk Patricia Bankester said there was no public comment made on the ordinance during the advertisement period.

In other business Monday, the council:

• Received an estimated cost from Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams of $80,000 for a metal structure which, if approved, would be used for the town’s new community center. Town employees would complete part of the project while other projects, such as air conditioning/heating units and electrical work, would have to be bid out. The Town Council rejected bids at its meeting March 5 saying all the bids were well above estimates for the new structure. In earlier reports, construction costs were estimated at $110 per square foot or a total of $352,000 for the new structure. The lowest of the eight bids presented at the March 5 meeting provided a base bid of $423,000, plus $75,000 in additional alternates. The town received an insurance settlement of $157,781.37 from Little Hall. Once construction is completed on the new facility and Little Hall is moved and rebuilt, the town expects and additional $75,000 in depreciation costs.
• Silverhill Seniors Coordinator Mary deLaunay announced that the April 12 luncheon would have an Easter theme. The senior group meets for lunch the second Thursday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the multipurpose building at the Silverhill First Baptist Church.
• Voted to deny a request to donate money to a group of Robertsdale High School Golden Bear Marching Band members for competition.
• Discussed the purchase of a more advanced locking and security system for town hall.
• Discussed the purchase of dog catching equipment for Police Chief Kim Wasdin in order to enforce the town’s dog ordinance.