By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Portsmouth City Council voted Monday night to amend Ordinance 18 of 2011, to reflect a wage increase for the position of public utilities assistant director (office manager) and a wage decrease for the position of executive secretary-civil service, effective Jan. 1, 2012, and to repeal Ordinance 18 of 2011.

A set salary of $37,029 had been in effect for the public utilities assistant director. That will change to $40,726 annually. The salary range for executive secretary-civil service, had been from $8,976 to $10,608. That will be changed to read $5,000 to $10,608.

“That salary ordinance does reflect the average salaries of the union employees,” Malone said. “Through the years, the union employees kept getting raises, and non-union employees didn’t. The supervisor’s base rate was lower than the base rate of the union employees that he oversees. And that’s what that is.”

Malone said the base rate for the Executive secretary in the civil service was cut by Council in the 2012 budget.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.