Mayor suggests taking pay cut to show support

During a recent Wickliffe City Council meeting, Mayor John Barbish suggested that he and members of council take a voluntary 10 percent pay reduction for the next several months.

“The charter prevents adjustments of the mayor and council’s compensation during the current term,” Barbish said at the April 27 meeting. “I think it would be a good gesture of solidarity with the community for myself and council to take a voluntary 10 percent pay reduction for the months of May, June and July.”

The mayor also offered an alternative option if the charter restriction proved limiting.

“If we cannot do this administratively, I would suggest we collectively make a contribution to either United Way Lake County Relief Fund, which is specific to folks going through COVID issues in Lake County during this time, or the Wickliffe Family Resource Center, as those groups already know who needs help the most.”

Barbish focused on the future of the city’s financial stability at the same meeting, highlighting a $950,000 loss projected by the Regional Income Tax Authority for the city.

“And being the length and financial impact of COVID-19 is still unknown, we’ll continue to monitor our financial standing even more often and make adjustments as needed,” he said.

“If we truly do face a loss of revenue of $950,000, as projected by RITA, I will ask the unions to reopen negotiations specific to the two-and-a-quarter percent annual raise around September/October when we know more. If we get to that point, the same will go for non-union employees.”

While Barbish highlighted the intent to renegotiate if adverse financial benchmarks were reached, the unions would have to willingly decide to participate.

“Of course the unions are not required to do so, and if not, it may become a talking

point for the next round of negotiations as is done every three years.”

The mayor’s desire to exhibit solidarity with the community was appreciated by council, but his suggestion of voluntary pay reductions was met with concerns.

“As a resident, I’m already taking a 10 percent reduction or loss like a lot of other residents around here,” Council President Edward Levon said. “I’m already trying to do what I can to give back to the community, as I am still employed.”

Levon also stated that he felt if they were to go through with pay reductions they do so as a group at a set time.

“All union, non-union, council, the mayor, we should all do it as one, instead of doing it as our own as a gesture,” he said. “I think if we get the unions to buy in to some kind of reduction then I think council should join in a reduction as well.”

Council member Joseph Sakacs agreed with Levon’s suggestion to forgo an immediate pay reduction and highlighted similar wage reductions or losses which affected them personally.

“I agree with you that when we do the negotiations in September/October, if the unions and nonunions agree to cuts, then we as council should at the time, but right now I’m shut down as a business due to this COVID,” he said. “(Council salary) is my only form of income. I work hard at it, but it’s all I got.”