CANFIELD — The pay rate at which part-time employees can be hired was set at a maximum of $36 per hour after council members approved a resolution during a regular meeting.

City Manager David D’Apolito said the issue doesn’t set a $36 hourly rate for part-timers; it only allows him to hire a part-timer up to that amount.

He said there is a full-time person that he wants to hold onto for a short time and needs to have the ability to do that.

“This will save the city half the salary and benefits until a new full-time person is hired,” D’Apolito said. “It does not set a precedent.”

At the time of the Wednesday meeting, the maximum rate at which part-timer could be hired was $25 per hour.

“An increase would leave part-time [rates] wide open,” said Council President Christine Oliver. “We have part-time police officers working for $19 per hour who put their lives on the line. I don’t agree.”

Council member Chuck Tieche said it is his understanding that the city will go with a part-time position and do away with the full-time position for now. When the full-time position is filled, the whole thing will go away.

D’Apolito said it is only to be able to retain a quality employee until the position can be filled.

Oliver called for a vote on the ordinance with council members Tieche, Bruce Neff, Mark Graham and Mayor Don Dragish voting for it. Oliver cast a no vote. It passed 4-1.

SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES

On the issue of slow-moving vehicles, the discussion was shorter than in previous meetings. Speaking during public comment was resident Carrie Morrow, who had a slow-moving vehicle equipped with a windshield, wipers, turn signals and brake lights and seat belt.

“I have a slow-moving vehicle that is legal on up to 35 mph streets,” she said. “I would like to see an ordinance to allow such vehicles on city streets. My vehicle has a VIN number, is registered, licensed and insured.”

Slow-moving vehicles, or SMVs, are defined by Ohio Revised Code as “a boat trailer, unit of farm machinery, road construction machinery, or other machinery designated by the manufacturer to operate at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less.”

Morrow said the SMV was purchased to take her son to school and the swim club. She added that in the past two weeks she was stopped by police and was told she couldn’t drive it on city streets.

City Attorney Mark Fortunato said he is researching other Ohio city ordinances and said he found several that allow SMVs.

He asked council members if they would like an ordinance and if he should draw one up. All five said they would like to see one.

Morrow asked how long it would take to bring it to a vote.

Fortunato told her it could be as early as the next council meeting or the meeting after that.

Oliver requested the next meeting be moved to Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. All council members were in favor of the change.

In other business, Council approved declaring a 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T police cruiser as surplus so it could be used as a trade-in on a new vehicle.