By Keri Luise
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore County Council on Tuesday voted to increase pay for the Police Department’s “supervisory, management, and confidential employees.”
Council Chairman Tom Quirk had requested action on the bill that would alter the personnel laws of Baltimore County through the Office of Human Resources with a change in pay schedules, holiday shift differential pays, and pay increases. Pay would increase for police department commanders and rank-and-file officers.
About 30 community members gathered for the meeting.
“Just a comment on these salary upgrades, during the [previous] work session, I asked if local 1311 is represented here for the firefighter’s union and also the police…and if they felt comfortable with these adjustments and there was an affirmation for that,” said Councilman Izzy Patoka.
Under the bill, a one-grade pay increase would be applied for the positions of Captain, Major, Colonel and Deputy Chief of Police. There would be two new pay schedules: The first schedule, effective July 2019 until June 2020, would add grade 26P; and, the second schedule, effective June 30, 2020, would incorporate a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment already approved in an earlier bill.
Additionally, the bill would amend Fire Department regulations regarding holiday and shift differential pay. According to the council, employees in field positions of the Fire Department would receive holiday pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for the number of hours worked on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Also, effective July 1, Fire Department employees, excluding Battalion Fire Chiefs assigned to headquarters operations when scheduled for day shift duty, will receive differential pay of $0.75 per hour for normally scheduled hours worked.
The Office of Budget and Finance estimated the cost of the holiday and shift differential changes would total $15,632 and $29,672, respectively. The total would be $292,558, officials said.
The council also approved a resolution sponsored by Councilman Wade Kach for the expansion of the Towson commercial revitalization district with needed renovations. Kach said the legislation “extends the commercial revitalization district along York Road from the beltway to Seminary Avenue.”
Zoning regulations also were approved by the County Council, including those dealing with assisted-living facilities in the Pikesville Commercial Revitalization District and with security guard booths.
“This bill permits security guard booths by right in all zones as an accessory use,” said Councilman David Marks who sponsored the bill that was unanimously approved by the council.
“However, it does identify some additions, they may not be located less than 10 feet from any front, side, or rear yard lot lines, may not exceed 16 feet in height, and may not have a gross floor area larger than 400 square feet,” Marks said.