Dover approves new contract with AFSCME employees

About 80 Dover city employees who are members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees received a $1.10 increase retroactive to April 1 when Dover Council approved a new three-year contract. Emergency Ordinance 16-25 also will give the employees a $1.05 raise an hour in the second year and a $1 raise in the third.

The AFSCME Union includes employees in the electric field, electric generation, water, wastewater, street, parks and cemetery departments.

“Across the board, that averages about 3 1/2% per year over the three-year contract, based on the average employee,” Mayor Shane Gunnoe said. “There's no change to the health insurance at this point. The city did negotiate some language for comp time instead of overtime, which will benefit the city by some savings on overtime expenses. All in all it was a good contract.”

Council approved Emergency Ordinance 14-25, authorizing the purchase of a new Sutphen Pumper for the fire department. The purchase price is $1,174,475. Costs would go up if the quote were not approved quickly, even though the pumper order will take about three years to fill.

Emergency Ordinance 17-25 was approved to advertise for bids and enter into contracts for the renovation of the new city municipal center in an amount not to exceed $900,000. One of the major projects will be the installation of an elevator.

Council also approved $87,400 for real estate, closing costs and related fees and expenses to purchase approximately 4 acres of land that is now an abandoned railroad bed. Beginning near Ohio Avenue, the parcel is long and narrow but will allow easier access to the city’s retention pond located along I-77. It also could be used for infrastructure related to the Schaeffler expansion.

Emergency Ordinance 13-25 also was approved to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the purchase of coal and the removal of coal ash for the Dover Municipal Light Plant. The current contract expires later this year.

In his mayor’s report, Gunnoe reported the city received two grants. The police department received $58,366 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services to fund equipment and associated costs related to the purchase of body cameras.

The city also received $615,000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission that will assist with the sewer replacement project on the north end of the city.

The city also earned $37,849 through the sale of obsolete vehicles and equipment.

Gunnoe announced a movie, “Test,” will film in the Dover/New Philadelphia area from April 12 through May 7. Anyone interested in being an extra on the film should email testmovieproduction@gmail.com.