Vienna Recorder Melissa Elam holds a bulletproof vest and a 15-pound weight as prompted by council member Tom Azinger. Mayor Randy Rapp looks on from the left while Councilmember Christopher Mancuso sits at the right. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

VIENNA — Vienna City Council Thursday increased pay in the Vienna Police Department by $6,000 a year.

In another issue, Anthony Harris, 18-year member of the Police Department and a member of the pension board, during the public forum asked council to table item six on the agenda to become a participating employer of the West Virginia Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System for Municipal Police Officers instead of the program sponsored by the city that is not transferable if officers leave.

“We’ve had two meetings in the last five weeks. This hasn’t been a topic of conversation. I know we’re not a voting entity. We’re not the one who makes the final decision. That is you. There’s not been back and forth,” he said. “We want to understand what this means. What does this mean for the future?”

Later in the meeting, council tabled the resolution 5-1, promising to do more research and revisit it at a later date.

Starting the police officer pay raise discussion, council member Tom Azinger had each member of council hold a bulletproof vest and a 15-pound weight. He said he wanted to demonstrate the physical weight police officers carry during their shifts.

Council member Kim Williams presented a spreadsheet comparing Vienna’s starting pay with surrounding departments with data provided by Chief Mike Pifer. Parkersburg’s starting pay is $23.47 an hour, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office is $22.17 and Williamstown is $22.05. Starting pay in Vienna currently is $23 an hour.

Williams moved to amend the raise to $6,000 annually or another $2.88 an hour, which unanimously passed. Council then voted on the amended resolution, which also unanimously passed.

“I think it’s a reasonable compromise. Council has always supported us and I see this as nothing but support,” Pifer said.

Council member Roger Bibbee was not present.

In other news, Finance Director Amy Roberts presented a potential financing plan for the Jackson Park Pool project. A $6.8 million bid from United Construction Co. Inc. was presented to council, but failed on a 3-3 vote.

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com.