Unity’s supervisors will not receive a raise this year in the wages they earn for their work as roadmasters.

Citing economic hardship among many township residents, Unity’s elected auditors on Tuesday approved a pay freeze for John Mylant, Michael O’Barto and Ed Poponick.

“We realize it’s been a tough year,” said Bill Hogel, chairman of the auditors. “There are a lot of people without work, without jobs.”

Restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic caused an upheaval in many industries across the region and nation.

“We did not ask for a raise this year,” O’Barto said. “There are a lot of people out of work, and we didn’t think it would be right.”

If pay hikes had been proposed, “we would have declined them,” he said.

The roadmasters will continue to earn an hourly wage of $29 and overtime pay of $43.50 per hour, for time worked beyond 40 hours per week.

O’Barto pointed out that township road crew members earn $30.49 per hour, under the terms of a union labor agreement.

The supervisors at their Monday reorganization meeting tabled setting 2021 wages for Unity’s non-union workers. O’Barto said the supervisors want to meet individually with the employees before taking action.

The supervisors reappointed O’Barto to a five-year term as a township representative on the Unity Township Municipal Authority board. That position comes with compensation of $50 per meeting, not to exceed $150 per month.

All three supervisors were authorized to attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors convention, slated for April 18-21 in Hershey. It wasn’t clear how plans for that event might be affected by the pandemic.

The supervisors will be paid 56 cents per mile to cover travel expenses. Poponick was selected as the board’s voting delegate for the convention.

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