Council acts on wage issues, sets workshops

The Cathlamet Town Council started 2019 with a light agenda for their first meeting of the year.

Council members voted unanimously to give employes a 3 percent cost of living adjustment.

Interim Clerk/Treasurer Sylvia Costich said the increase would amount to approximately $10,613.38 without considering overtime. The raise is retroactive to Jan. 1.

The council also voted to the employee portion of a new state family leave assessment. The cost will be about $853.43 per year, Costich said.

The council was favorable to allowing the Public Works Department to hire a contractor to replace a wooden walkway across Birnie Creek estuary. Public Works Director Duncan Cruickshank said he would contact contractors to present cost estimates to the council in February.

Council members agreed to hold two workshop meetings in February to work on various issues:

--On Feb. 6, 2 p.m., they'll gather for a workshop on a possible ordinance for airbnb lodging and to set up council member liason portfolios.

--On Feb. 13, 2 p.m., they'll gather again to create a summary of a Department of Ecology report and to discuss proposed consultation services to help the council in strategic planning.