A non-binding resolution with the end goal of providing hazard pay to Fort Wayne city workers “in harm’s way” of the coronavirus was rejected by City Council Tuesday night.
Proposed by at-large Democrat Michelle Chambers, city employees that have continued to work in and with the public would have received a hazard pay boost of $2.50 an hour, retroactive to March 18. It was introduced on May 11, but held for two weeks over concerns related to the city’s financial forecast.
Chambers emphasized that the goal was not to provide hazard pay to workers directly with Tuesday’s vote; it would open the dialogue between the Council body, Mayor Tom Henry’s office and local health officials to determine the best course for making hazard pay a reality.
For Republicans, worries over Fort Wayne’s budget outlook were not quelled. The city would not be eligible for hazard pay reimbursement from either state or federal CARES Act dollars. And while the city does have $8.7 million at its disposal for COVID-19 relief, Fort Wayne director of governmental affairs Stephanie Crandall says there are many spending restrictions and “constant guidance” toward how that can be used.
“It’s really meant for employees who are directly responding to or mitigating the public health emergency. So if that was the source, then we might not have any employees other than public safety, which I don't think was the focus of this resolution.”
The measure failed 5-4; all five Republicans rejected it, while all four Democrats supported it.
Fort Wayne City Council’s decision runs counter to that of Allen County, which last Thursday approved two resolutions related to hazard pay for its employees 6-1. That measure will provide supplemental “pandemic pay” to some county workers and a bonus for salaried Department of Health employees responding to the pandemic.
