Bel Air's 90 town employees will not be getting a 2 percent mid-year pay raise, which Bel Air's Board of Town Commissioners rejected Monday.

Although a resolution to approve the raise received a majority of three votes among the five commissioners, the measure failed because it needed at least four votes, Town Administrator Chris Schlehr said.

The cost-of-living raise was proposed by Schlehr, who said it would have cost the town $64,871. Last spring, the commissioners did not go along with Schlehr's recommendation for a 1.5 percent raise at the start of the current fiscal year July 1.

Commissioners Ed Hopkins, Susan Burdette and Rob Preston voted for the raise. Commissioners Dave Carey and Rob Reier voted against it.

"I truly feel that this request to find a 2 percent COLA is not unreasonable," Burdette, who joined the board in November, said.

Preston said they wouldn't be giving raises to enhance the employees' wallets, but merely to make up for devaluation of dollars they have been paid.

Reier, however, said the country remains in a bad recession he couldn't ask his neighbors and constituents to pay for raises when they aren't getting any themselves. "I'm not in favor of it in this point in time," he said.

Carey said he opposed the midyear raise because of the economy; however, he also said he will seriously consider COLA increase in next budget.

Only one person spoke at a public hearing prior to the vote.

Timothy Smith, of Leeswood Road, questioned the impact of adding 2 percent raise to $7 million already spent on employees yearly for salaries and benefits and asked whether taxpayers in Bel Air can afford to pay their taxes. Smith also asked that people at the lower end of the pay scale receive a more equitable distribution of the additional money.

Other business

After a public hearing during which no one commented, commissioners approved the floodplain resolution, which, according to Planning Director Kevin Small, is to bring the town ordinance up to the state's code, as required.

The main difference between the old and new ordinance is an increase in the elevation needed for a house being built in a flood zone from one foot to two feet high.

Commissioners also approved a resolution to reimburse its sewer fund for the $300,000 inflow and infiltration project that was included in the fiscal year 2012 sewer budget.

Recognitions

Bel Air Police Officer D.J. Ravadge was promoted to corporal and Officer Henry Marchesani to sergeant.

Upcoming meeting

The town will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16 but the meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at 39 N. Hickory Ave.