The mayor and Lawrence Township Council, along with non-union township employees, will receive salary increases of 2% for 2020 and 2021, under the terms of a salary ordinance adopted by the council at its Dec. 1 meeting.
A separate salary ordinance, which also provides for an annual 2% salary increase for the police chief, was adopted by the Lawrence Township Council at the same meeting. Both ordinances were adopted following a public hearing.
The Lawrence Township mayor will be paid $14,769 for 2020 and $15,064 for 2021. The mayor, who is chosen from among the five Township Council members, serves a two-year term in the honorary post.
The four Township Council members will be paid $11,451 in 2020 and $11,680 in 2021. They serve four-year terms.
The salary range for the municipal manager, who is also the qualified purchasing agent, has been set at $149,436-$210,714 for 2020, and between $152,425 and $215,981 for 2021.
While the salaries of the police chief, the Lawrence Township Council and the mayor are clearly outlined, the salary ordinance sets a salary range for the other employees, from the municipal engineer to the health officer and the director of Public Works.
The salary ordinance sets out two pay ranges – one for employees hired before Dec. 31, 2013, and one for those hired on or after Jan. 1, 2016.
The health officer, the superintendent of Recreation and the municipal clerk – if hired before 2014 – started at $109,333 for 2020, and $111,520 in 2021. If the hiring date was after Jan. 1, 2016, the starting salary is $99,124 in 2020, and $101,106 in 2021. The salary tops out at $137,982 in 2020 and $140,742 in 2021, regardless of the hiring date.
The municipal engineer, if hired before 2014, started at $126,326 in 2020 and $128,852 in 2021. If the municipal engineer was hired after Jan. 1, 2016, the starting salary is $114,530 in 2020 and $116,821 in 2021. The top salary is $145,868 for 2020 and $148,785 in 2021.
The director of Public Works, if hired before 2014, has a salary range of $134,862-$164,115 in 2020, and between $137,559 and $167,397 in 2021. If the director was hired after Jan. 1, 2016, the salary range for 2020 is $114,530-$145,868, and between $116,821 and $148,785 in 2021.
Employees hired before Jan. 1, 2013 are eligible for longevity pay after eight years of service. It does not apply to employees hired on or after Jan. 1, 2014, according to the ordinance.
At 8-11 years of service, an employee is eligible for $800 in longevity pay. The amount increases to $1,100 for those who have worked for the township from 12-15 years, and employees who have worked for the township for 16-19 years receive an extra $1,400.
Between 20 and 23 years of service, longevity pay is set at $1,700. Employees who have worked for the township for 24-27 years will be paid $2,000. At 28 years and beyond, longevity pay is capped at $2,300.
The salary ordinance for the police chief covers a five-year time span from 2019-23. The police chief’s salary was set at $171,267 in 2019 and $174,693 in 2020. For 2021, the police chief will earn $178,186 and $182,017 in 2022. In the final year of the salary ordinance, the police chief will earn $186,113.