CROTHERSVILLE — One more stamp of approval will result in Crothersville town employees receiving raises at the start of 2023.

During a meeting Tuesday night at the town hall, the first reading of a salary ordinance for next year was approved 3-0. Council members Terry Richey and Aaron Mays were absent.

Vice President Jamy Greathouse made a motion for 3.5% raises for nonpolice employees excluding the second deputy, Katie Masters. If the second reading is approved next month, she would receive a higher percentage.

During the council’s August meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Danieta Foster said she would like to see Masters’ hourly rate increased because she’s the town hall’s lowest-paid employee and “she brings a lot to the table in this office.”

Mays, however, said if the council approved that, the town’s utility director deserved more, too, because of what all he has brought to the town in his position.

Richey said she had a problem with pulling one person out and giving them a larger raise than everyone else. She also said she didn’t like discussing what employees should or shouldn’t be paid during a public meeting.

The council ultimately decided to table the salary ordinance until the September meeting so an executive session could be held to meet with employees for evaluations.

On Tuesday night, Greathouse said after researching the inflation and national cost of living rates and learning compensation was between 3.2 and 4% last year, he recommended giving 3.5% increases to town employees for 2023. That would match the percentage given for 2022.

“That 3.5 still puts us in that range to be able to at least meet or somewhat match the national inflation rate as far as the pay goes,” Greathouse said.

The town’s police officers aren’t included in this salary ordinance because they are on a separate pay matrix. They received 3% increases for 2022.

Greathouse also agreed with the initial recommendation of increasing Masters’ pay.

For going above and beyond the normal everyday expectations, Greathouse said Masters deserves the bump in pay.

“I know we had a discussion of how you single certain people out, but at the same time, merit, it’s due when it’s due,” he said. “Katie came into the position in a bad situation. There were a lot of things that had to be done. It was a group effort, but a lot was put on her, and she did a lot of the research, a lot of the files, a lot of the getting things up to date, and everything has been now put back into place where it needs to be.”

The second and final reading of the salary ordinance will be considered for approval during the council’s next meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at the town hall, 111 E. Howard St., Crothersville. Meetings are open to the public and press and may be viewed live online at facebook.com/townofcrothersville.