SALAMANCA — Four Common Council members voted down the idea to close offices at the city municipal building at 2 p.m. Monday, April 8 for public safety in observance of the solar eclipse.
Barry Smith, R-Ward 3, brought the proposal to the council Wednesday to close city hall during the eclipse as well as further authorize staff to leave at the discretion of the city department head with the use of their available leave time.
Smith argued that people driving to and from city hall to pay a bill or inquire about other services during that time could be caught up in increased traffic. He also expressed concern about city employees working outside during the eclipse and claiming worker’s compensation for any injuries that may happen from looking at the sun.
“It’s a solar eclipse. It’s 6 or 8 minutes long,” said Janet Koch, D-Ward 5. “It was brought up at our police commission meeting. They’re police officers, they’re outside. If there is a burglary at 3 p.m., are they just supposed to go home because it’s the solar eclipse?”
Mike Reed, I-Ward 4, noted that some employees don’t have paid time off and wondered what they would have done. City Clerk Tracy Chamberlain said they could have left and not been paid or continue to work their shifts as is. Smith said employees also could have worked out an adjusted schedule with their department head.
John “Jack” Hill, D-Ward 1, said he talked with Smith about it and, after considering the resolution, said it should be up to the individual what they want to do during the eclipse.
“If he wants to look at the sun, I don’t think that should be any problem for us, whether he’s working or not,” Hill said.
IN OTHER NEWS, Markie Phillips will continue as the city’s youth bureau director and recreation director after action by the council.
Phillips was permanently appointed Recreation Director after successfully passing the position’s exam and being reachable, effective March 15, according to Cattaraugus County Civil Service. She was also provisionally reappointed as Youth Bureau Director contingent on taking the test and being reachable on the Civil Service list, according to the non-union benefit rules, effective March 15.
The council also authorized an increase in city ambulance rate fees, effective April 1, as recommended by the city’s billing processing company.
Charges include $1,600 for Advanced Life Support 2; $1,300 for Advance Life Support; $1,000 for Basic Life Support; $400 for Treat and Release; mileage of $35 per mile and Medicaid fuel for 12 cents per mile.
ALSO OF NOTE, the council:
• Accepted the $48,000 quote from HUNT Engineers for services approved in November 2022 for the culvert replacement project on Front Avenue over Titus Run Creek to convert to a bridge replacement project, which includes $10,000 in additional engineering fees.
• Approved a 2% general raise for all full- and part-time Salamanca Housing Authority non-union employees, except for the full-time account clerk-typist who is to receive a $3 per hour raise, effective April 1.
• Created the Civil Service position “assessor trainee” in the assessment/zoning/code enforcement office per the non-union employee agreement.
• Authorized the renewal of the city’s agreement with the City of Olean Community Development for Olean Area Transit System bus services with Salamanca for June 1, 2023, through May 31.
• Approved an increase of the dog control officer’s hourly wage to $15 at a maximum of $25 per week retro-effective to Jan. 1.
• Appointed Samara Lindberg of Salamanca as a part-time dog caretaker at minimum wage, as needed up to 20 hours per week, with the requirement of receiving the rabies pre-exposure vaccination, effective immediately.
• Authorized ending paying city employees’ salaries if they are absent from work due to a documented positive COVID-19 test, also known as “COVID pay.” Going forward, employees must use their available paid time off to cover any COVID-related illnesses, effective March 31.
