Bertram council settles on police chief salary, financial administrator position

BERTRAM — The Bertram City Council reassigned duties for two city employees and set new police chief Tracy Weems’ salary during a special meeting Feb. 5.

Since former mayor Winnette Morris’ resignation in November, the council has sought a part-time employee for a financial administrator position. Morris had been paid on a part-time basis to serve in that capacity until a replacement was found.

Instead of hiring a part-time employee, the council decided to split the duties between City Secretary Evan Milliorn and utility clerk Georgina Hernandez. The council also approved raises for the two to compensate for the added responsibilities. A motion by council member Pat Turner to keep Morris in the part-time position died for lack of a second. Turner obstained from the vote to approve raises for Milliorn and Hernandez.

The two raises came from funds budgeted to pay for a part-time financial administrator.

In other council business, Weems and the council agreed to a salary of $41,000 for the new police chief. The city budgeted $46,000 for the position, and the remaining $5,000 will be put toward new uniforms for the department.

Weems is involved in hiring an officer or investigator to bring the department up to three members. The council directed Weems to cap the salary of the open position at $36,500.

jared@thepicayune.com