Red Bay retirees get unprecedented raise

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason FCT Staff Writer
RED BAY- The Red Bay City Council voted four to one to grant a cost of living raise to city retirees during the council's regular meeting held Monday, Oct. 2.
The raise of seven percent is the first ever raise given to city retirees. The raise will affect six Red Bay retirees, and will cost an additional $4,000 per year for the city, Jeff Reid, mayor, said.
The increase in pay is a result of the Act 2006-510, passed during the first special session of the Alabama Legislature. The law allows the cost of living increase to certain retirees and surviving beneficiaries of the Employee's Retirement System. Retirees' effective date of retirement must be on or before Sept. 1, 2005, according to William E. Paul, Retirement Executive for the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama.
"These retirees only get a raise when the state gives them one," Reid said.
All council members voted for the raise with the exception of Bobby Nelson, who voted no on the issue.
In other business, the council voted to table the idea of purchasing a wood chipper for use of the city. There was some debate whether or not the chipper should be purchased. The idea of burning the brush at a centralized location was discussed before the issue was tabled for further discussion at a later time.
The council also approved the request of City Clerk Linda Holcomb to attend the 41st Annual Municipal Management Training for city clerks and administrators, in Birmingham November 15-17.
The council voted to have Water Plant Road re-striped because of the. The estimated cost of the re-striping will be $2500, which will be partially paid by the Franklin County Road Department, since portions of the road is a county road.
In closing comments, Councilman Bobby Nelson questioned for a Visa charge where someone with the police department stayed at the Marriott for three nights. The council discussed whether or not the city taxpayer should pay for items such as these, even though the department member was attending training in that area at the time. The council will discuss this further at that next meeting when more information will be available.
The next Red Bay City Council will be held Monday, Oct. 16 at 7 pm.