Hiram Council Approves Revised Taxi Ordinance, Pay Schedule

The Hiram City Council met Tuesday evening and voted in favor of removing a moratorium previously set for taxi businesses. Councilmen also approved the city’s revised taxi ordinance.

In April, on vehicles for hire and on pool room businesses while ordinances underwent further review. Officer Larry Konieczny briefed the council on an updated fee schedule for taxi businesses at last week’s work session.

The council voted to adopt the revised ordinance for vehicles for hire during Tuesday’s meeting.

The city will also adopt a monthly pay schedule for the mayor and council members without increasing the amount. Their pay will now be paid in 12 monthly payments equal to the amount previously paid in two payments. The move was said to bring the city in line with most municipalities in the region.

And the council approved a motion to adopt a time clock system for city employees.

The issue was raised by then-incoming Councilwoman Kathy Bookout in January. Concerns regarding overtime led to the move, but since then further checks and balances have improved, as reported during last week’s work session, but the council voted in favor of implementing the new system as well at a total cost of about $20,000.  

According to Mayor Doris Devey, the city has very little overtime currently and the time clock system will complement the checks and balances that are in place.

“Most cities are on time clock systems and this just brings the city more in line with other municipalities,” Devey said. The system, she said, is expected to take about 30 days to install.    

During the meeting, Sidney Baxter was appointed to the Hiram Board of Ethics to replace Bob Bookout, who stepped down now that his spouse, Kathy, serves on the council.

Devey also recognized the upcoming National Police Week, May 13-19, and presented Hiram Police Chief Gary Yandura with a proclamation. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.