Compensation increases unanimously approved

CLOVIS — Three separate compensation increases for Clovis city employees totaling about $415,000 were unanimously approved at Thursday’s Clovis city commission meeting.

The bulk of the cost comes from a 2.5 percent salary increase for all city employees except City Manager Justin Howalt and a 2.5 percent increase to salary midpoints, totaling around $365,000 annually.

Howalt said for any employees with a current salary of 120 percent or more of the midpoint, the increase will be annualized over the remaining pay periods in fiscal year 2019 but would not be added to their base pay to ensure employee salaries don’t exceed the maximum range.

Also a part of the $365,000 is an increase to the minimum salary for new hires at the fire department to aid recruiting, Howalt said.

The other approved compensation increases include raising the cell phone stipend from $35 a month to $50 a month — totaling about $12,000 annually — and revising stand by pay from $10 a day to one hour of straight pay with a minimum of $10 — totaling about $37,000 a year.

Howalt said the money for all three compensation packages will be taken from a 1/16 gross receipts tax increase previously set aside for the landfill.

Howalt said his intention is to bring another 2.5 percent salary increase before the commission next year.

Also at Thursday’s meeting (all votes 8-0):

• The commission approved an agreement with Presbyterian Health Care on behalf of Plains Regional Medical Center for PRMC to provide at least $3.3 million of uncompensated health care for individuals who cannot afford to pay.

PRMC Administrator Dick Smith said during Thursday’s meeting that the only thing PRMC requests in return that the city certify that PRMC has honored the agreement should any government agencies or otherwise ask.

Per the agreement, PRMC will provide the city with an annual summary report of the assistance provided at the hospital.

• The commission approved a liquor license transfer for Buffalo Wild Wings, necessitated by a change in ownership.

There were no comments during a public hearing regarding the transfer held prior to the commission’s vote.

• The commission appointed Commissioner Fidel Madrid to serve as the voting delegate and Commissioner Chris Bryant to serve as the alternate at the New Mexico Municipal League Annual Business Meeting to be held at the end of the month.