Martinsburg Borough Council Minutes - Budget Meeting

Meeting Overview

A special Budget Meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on October 16, 2023, starting at 6:30 p. m. The primary purpose was to work on the 2024 budget and address general borough business.

Attendees:

• Elected Officials: Mayor Richard A. Brantner, President P. Robert Dickson, Vice-President Durban Metzler, Pro-tem Charles E. Kensinger, Councilman Edward L. Bennett, Councilwoman Janet E. Blattenberger, Councilman James C. Dell, and Councilman Darin B. Meck.
• Staff Present: Manager Richard Brantner, Jr. , Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily, and Chief Kerry Hoover.

Personnel and Staffing Decisions

The council addressed several personnel matters, including wage increases, resignations, and hiring changes.

• Wage Increases: A motion was passed to increase wages for 2024. The Borough Secretary/Treasurer and Borough Manager will receive a $2. 00/hour increase, while other non-uniformed full-time employees will receive a $1. 00/hour increase.
• Resignation Accepted: The council unanimously accepted the resignation of Renee Gunnett as part-time clerk, effective November 30, 2023.
• Office Hours Reduction: To manage the upcoming staff shortage caused by the clerk's departure, public office hours will be temporarily reduced. Effective December 1, 2023, the office will operate Monday–Friday from 9:00 a. m. to 12:00 p. m. This change is at the discretion of the Borough Manager and Secretary until a replacement is hired and trained.
• New Clerk Position: The council approved changing the clerk position from part-time to full-time. They authorized advertising a "Help Wanted" notice for a new full-time clerk with a starting wage between $16 and $20 per hour, depending on experience. Applications are due by November 3, 2023.

Police Agreement Update

Chief Kerry Hoover reported on the two-year police agreement with Huston Township, which expires at the end of 2023. Due to rising costs for wages, gas, and health insurance, the council is recommended to increase the hourly cost of wage and benefits from $42. 50 to:

• $47. 00 per hour for 2024.
• $48. 00 per hour for 2025.

Consequently, the revenue line item in the budget was adjusted from $13,500 in 2023 to $18,000 for the 2024 budget.

Draft Budget Review (Draft No. 2024-03)

The council reviewed Draft Budget No. 2024-03, which balances the General Fund (unlike the previous draft which showed a surplus). The budget utilizes the current real estate tax millage of 1. 967.

Financial Summary (Draft Budget 2024-03):

• Estimated Balance on Hand (Jan 1, 2024): $787,404 Total
• Total Revenue: $1,129,069
• Total Expenditures: $1,128,900
• Estimated Balance on Hand (Dec 31, 2023): $787,573 Total

Personnel Committee Wage Recommendations: The budget reflects the following hourly wage adjustments:

• Laborer: $20. 00 to $21. 00
• Working Foreman: $21. 75 to $22. 75
• Manager: $26. 21 to $28. 21
• Wastewater Operator: $25. 02 to $26. 02
• Borough Secretary/Treasurer: $24. 33 to $26. 33

Note: No additional raises were included for full-time police officers in this budget, as they had recently received early raises approved on August 7, 2023.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p. m.