Dewey Delays Vote On Bonuses

DEWEY BEACH — The Town Council has postponed its vote on a resolution that would reward bonuses based on the town’s budget surplus until the Nov. 14 meeting.

In the resolution drafted by the budget and finance committee, the town’s 24 nonseasonal employees would receive $250 each year, an additional $250 if the town has a budget surplus and a collective share of 5 percent of a surplus of over $100,000.

Due to errors made in the publicly distributed version of the resolution, Mayor Rick Solloway said the council would delay the vote until the next meeting.

Bonuses have been a controversial issue in the town since former Mayor Dell Tush distributed $4,800 in unauthorized bonuses at a private party in 2008.

Resident Mary Nelson said the town should have considered merit-based bonuses.

“I never got a bonus unless my boss put in for something that I did,” she said.

Resident Dick Cleveland said merit should be rewarded by raises, not bonuses.

“If they’re doing a good job, they should get more money,” he said.

Commissioner Marc Appelbaum said the bonuses as currently proposed invest everyone in the process and incentivize being budget-conscious.

As of August, he said the town has an estimated $130,000 budget surplus.

If that surplus continues through Jan. 1, every employee will receive a $770.83 bonus.

Commissioner Diane Hanson said it was important to address the bonus issue.

“I think this clarifies the process,” she said. “My only concern was, in the past, it was chaos.”

Commissioner James Przygocki said the bonuses will serve to recognize “overworked and underpaid” town employees.

“We should take any chance we can to reward them,” he said.

By: Wallace McKelvey | Daily Times