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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; While vowing to keep costs down and operate within the budget of the former office-holder, Mayor Tony George gave $10,000 raises to two city employees and bumped up the pay of other workers taking on additional duties.</p><p>City Revitalization Coordinator Edward Pesotski received a 20-percent increase and Department of Public Works employee Ronald Romanelli trailed with a 19.5-percent boost. Several other health inspectors who cross-trained to work as rental inspectors also got pay hikes of several thousand dollars each.</p><p>George Tuesday defended the raises, saying they don&#8217;t add up to what he&#8217;s saved since taking office in January.</p><p>&#8220;We did cut expenses. We cut positions,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The $32,000 more the five employees will take home nearly consumes the savings from the demotion of Deputy Director of Public Works Kenneth Pahler to recreation manager at the Hollenback Golf Course. Pahler&#8217;s salary dropped by more than half to $40,093 from $81,694. When the raises were factored into his $41,601 pay cut, the city came out ahead $9,601.</p><p>Among the first decisions George made were to terminate key staff of former Mayor Tom Leighton, cut the salaries of the senior staff and create several new jobs. George reviewed Leighton&#8217;s $51.5 million balanced budget, which did not contain a property tax hike, and proposed amendments including raising the millage to generate an estimated $2 million in revenue to cover a shortfall. But the city council rejected the changes, leaving George pondering the possibility of layoffs to make payroll and pay the bills.</p><p>The raises were not publicized and George confirmed tips to the Times Leader about them. All the increases and demotion were done through executive orders.</p><p>Romanelli&#8217;s pay-increase order was issued on Jan. 18, two weeks after George took the oath of office. He was listed as a dispatcher with an annual pay of $51,220. George assigned Romanelli the additional role of yard manager at a new pay rate of $61,220.</p><p>&#8220;I got complaints that things were missing (in the yard),&#8221; George said.</p><p>His job description required him to:</p><p>&#8226; Manage the day-to-day operations of all Department of Public Works employees.</p><p>&#8226; Provide daily schedules for all DPW employees.</p><p>&#8226; Work closely with Parks and Recreation employees, the city electrician, and the Building and Grounds employees to fulfill labor and materials needs for their respective departments.</p><p>Pesotski went from $49,307 as city revitalization coordinator to $59,307 with his added responsibilities as health inspector supervisor. His order was signed Feb. 12.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s got a whole slew of extra duties,&#8221; George said.</p><p>Among the job duties were:</p><p>&#8226; Managing the Food Establishment Inspection Program, Safety and Sanitation Inspection Program, Vector Control Program, Animal Enforcement Program and other environmental-related assignments including the Neighborhood Impact Team and assignments including water/soil/air quality.</p><p>&#8226; Acting as a liaison between various city departments in an effort to compel property owners to comply with all city codes.</p><p>&#8226; Performing rental and housing inspections.</p><p>George said Leighton was responsible for the other raises and promised extra pay with the certification of rental inspector. &#8220;He told these people. That was under Leighton. He told them,&#8221; George said.</p><p>But the city benefits from the certifications because the number of people able to do the inspections tripled from two to six, George said.</p><p>Joanne Gagliardi went from health secretary at $43,381 to office manager/rental inspector at $48,381. Her order was issued Feb. 24.</p><p>James Elias remained an environmental compliance officer but his pay increased to $45,132 from $43,132. Paul Ginter also did not change his job title, staying on as a health educator/chronic disease specialist. His pay increased to $41,573 from $36,573. Their orders were signed Feb. 12.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">George </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_George_Tony.jpg</photo0><caption0>George </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George says city saving money as he issues raises, some of them over $10,000