HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — Trustees reported at their Wednesday meeting that they finalized a new union contract with the township’s road department.

Trustee Jason Tedrow, who oversees the road department, told residents during his report that the contract includes a few “significant” changes, including compensated time off for employees.

“They can earn up to 40 hours a year, but we did try to control it, so there will be no buildup,” Tedrow said. “If it’s earned that year, it has to be used that year, that way we don’t earn it at this rate, then pay it out three years later for $3 an hour more.”

Tedrow said the move allows them to be fiscally responsible and gives the employees flexibility. He said if they take the 40 hours and use them later in the year, it offsets the eight hours the township would pay them, potentially saving $1,000 per employee.

Tedrow commended new Road Superintendent Ryan Evans for “stepping up,” explaining that Evans didn’t agree with some of the pay differences among the employees.

“There was about a $9 per hour pay rate difference, so he actually chose, and the union approached us and they wanted to step his rate back and distribute that to the other guys,” Tedrow said. “And we were going to set that as a new baseline moving forward and instead of doing percentages, we’re doing it with a set dollar amount.”

Tedrow said the move to a set dollar amount creates a “little bit of parity” between the employees, which spares them from potential future conflicts.

ZONING

Trustee Bill Colletta said officials plan to make junk or disabled vehicles on residential property a focal point this year, a decision he reached after discussions with Zoning Administrator Rene McCarthy.

Colletta said issues with a property on Jacobs Road arose again this week.

“He was down to two vehicles. We had that property cleaned up, he is up to 12 (vehicles) again and we’re pretty much done tolerating that with that gentleman,” Colletta said. “And we will take matters into account there; he will be getting a letter again, but that property has been a nuisance and a problem for us.”