Special Meeting — Minutes

Village of Benton October 4, 2023 Special Board Meeting Minutes Members present: Scott Cruse, Ken Farrey, John Perkins, Jill Knight, Chuck Wartner, Joe Slater, and Cal Robbins. Absent members: None Village Employees Present: Jim Goffinet, Eric Mowry, and Brian Hammill Others Present: None The Special Meeting of the Benton Village Board was called to order by the Village President, Scott Cruse, at 6:30 P.M. in the conference room of the Benton Business Incubator Building at 244 Ridge Avenue, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. In compliance with the open meeting law, proper notice of the meeting had been posted in four public places: the Zephyr Depot, Benton State Bank, Benton Post Office, and Benton Business Incubator Building. President Cruse noted the next item on the agenda was discussion and possible approval of employee wages for 2024. He noted there were several exhibits included with the board packet and presented data included within:  Area wages survey  Wage increases in 2023  Increases in Vacation time policy implemented in 2023  Wisconsin State Retirement data  The recommendation from the Personnel Committee meeting on 10/2/2023 was an increase of $1.00/hour for each full-time employee with an additional $1.00/per hour for the sewer/water employee upon becoming the “operator in charge”. Motion (Knight, Wartner) to accept the recommendation from the Personnel Committee of $1.00 for each full-time employee with an additional $1.00/hour for the sewer/water employee upon becoming the “operator in charge”. Discussion ensued. Motion (Farrey) to amend the motion on the floor to an additional $2.00/hour for Linemen and Sewer/Water and a $1.00/hour increase for the Village Clerk and Police Chief. Amended motion failed for lack of a second. Motion (Robbins, Slater) to amend the motion on the floor to an addition $3.00/hour for Linemen and Sewer/Water and $1.00/hour for the Village Clerk and Police Chief. (The part-time clerk is scheduled to receive a $.50/hour increase in 2024. Roll Call: Perkins Yes, Knight No, Wartner Yes, Slater Yes, Cruse Yes, Farrey Yes. Motion carried. Discussion occurred regarding short-term borrowing to increase the tax levy. Motion (Robbins, Farrey) to borrow $175,000 from Benton State Bank. Roll Call: Knight Yes, Wartner Yes, Robbins Yes, Cruse Yes, Farrey Yes, Perkins Yes. Motion carried. Motion (Robbins, Perkins) to adjourn at 7:30 P.M. Voice – all ayes. Motion carried.