Council approves raises

By SUSAN MARSHALL

Staff writer

Three city employees received pay raises Monday night at the Peabody City Council meeting after a 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel.

On return to open meeting, the council approved salary increases for City Administrator Mac Manning, Deputy City Administrator Stephanie Ax, and Economic Development Director Shane Marler.

Manning’s annual salary will be increased from $34,500 to $37,400. Ax receives an hourly wage, and she will go from $14.85 per hour to $15.10 per hour. Marler’s salary will increase from $30,000 to $33,150.

The increases were built into the 2012 budget and approved in August. Monday night’s vote in favor of the salary increases was unanimous. They will go into effect next payroll period.

In other business:

• Elmer Carson addressed the council about his plan to restore the residence at 907 Vine St.. He will purchase a building permit to work on the property, install storm windows and doors, and paint the house before July 1. He will provide Manning with a timeline of his remodeling plans. The council approved an extension for repairs to the property.
• Council members discussed removal of streetlights that have been placed on various alleys in the community. There was support for keeping several of the alley lights such as the ones on Second Street from Sycamore west to the park. Manning and council member Janice Woodruff will make a final list of those to be removed.
• Councilman Tom Schmidt reported the Peabody Economic Development Committee met to set and prioritize goals for 2012. Included in their plans are development of the Baker Buildings and Baker Lofts and a large directional sign on the west side of Peabody.
• Manning reported he has nearly completed work on the 2011files and year-end reports. The city expects auditors early in March and Manning has begun getting paper work ready for them.
• Peabody Economic Development and Main Street Director Shane Marler presented the 2011 annual report to the council. The report summarizes the economic progress for the community and business district in 2011. The report is available on the city’s web site and hard copies are available at the city office.
• Marler announced that the apartment above Mendoza’s restaurant, which is part of the Baker Lofts project, has been rented to an employee at Peabody Care Center.

The next meeting of Peabody City Council will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in the city building.