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SALEM -- The parks commission approved employee pay raises in its special meeting Aug. 5.
Following an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters, the commissioners voted two to one to increase the base wage for the department's laborer position by 4.5%, and to increase the mechanic position's wage by 6%, retroactive to July 1.
Commissioner Lori Colian, who made the initial motion for the raises, said that they were intended to "bring their wages closer to the wage earned by all other city departments." The dissenting vote was cast by Commissioner Don Yeasted, who said he had voted no because he "was in favor of a higher wage increase."
The commissioners previously proposed pay increases for the laborer and mechanic positions in its July 22 meeting. The commissioners argued those raises were necessary to retain personnel amidst ongoing inflation and staffing issues.
However, Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey questioned if the commissioners could do so as the affected employees are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2701, and any modifications to their wage could represent a modification to the collective bargaining agreement between AFSCME and the city which was approved by the city council in their July 21 meeting.
While Parks Director Kelli Pastore contended at that time that she had spoken with AFSCME 2701 President Ryan Boyer and been told that the department could increase their base pay, and that the contract could be updated to reflect the change, the matter was ultimately tabled at that time pending further clarification.
Subsequent approval for the raises will still be required from the city council in the form of a modification to the city's wage ordinance and AFSCME as a contract amendment. The commissioners requested that if that approval is not given "within a reasonable period of time" that they be given "a written reason, with supporting documentation."
Pastore said that if needed she would voluntarily forego a raise for 2026 "to ensure there was adequate room in the budget for raises for the department's other employees."
The parks commission will meet next at 8 a.m. on Aug. 26.