Lorain safety forces getting coronavirus hazard pay

LORAIN — Safety forces in the city of Lorain will be getting a temporary pay bump due to COVID-19. The city received roughly $3.2 million Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act funds to be spent by Dec. 30. The city must submit spending plans to the state by mid-October. Of that funding, $900,000 is now earmarked for hazard pay for police, fire, dispatch and auxiliary — the highest amount of any distribution approved for the city's funds. Lorain is the first city in the county to give hazard pay to its first responders, Mayor Jack Bradley said. "We're going to be able to pay a little bit of the overtime that was necessitated by COVID, but it's my hope that if Council passes this today, I'm going to be able to get that hazard pay out … at their next pay," Bradley said. "Which would bring in some additional revenue to the city because we're going to get city income tax from that money." The hazard pay is for the next 10 months, though it could be extended, Bradley said. Lorain police will receive an additional $500 a month, plus 100 hours of compensatory time to be used in the next five years. Lorain firefighters will receive an additional $600 a month. Dispatchers will receive an additional $300 a month and auxiliary officers who work an average of 20 hours a week or more will receive an additional $100 a month. The amounts were agreed to by each group's union, he said. The hazard pay was prompted in part by other city employees being able to participate in SharedWork Ohio. As a way to avoid layoffs, workers volunteered for the program to reduce their hours by one to two days a week, allowing them to draw unemployment benefits. During that time, workers were able to get a $600-a-week bonus to unemployment benefits, though those expired July 31. An additional round of funding — of which Lorain is expected to get roughly $2.9 million, according to Bradley — is awaiting approval in the Statehouse. "And then I'm hoping with the next $2.9 million (in CARES funding), I want to give them some more hazard pay," Bradley said. "Because I think they deserve it." In all, he hoped fire and police personnel would get roughly $10,000 in hazard pay after additional allocations are made. In addition to hazard pay, the city is looking to bolster local businesses and nonprofits with its CARES dollars. This includes providing $150,000 in economic relief to the Ariel on Broadway Hotel and $10,000 to the Lorain Palace Theatre. Bradley said the hotel was unable to take advantage of other paycheck protection programs or loans due to when it opened. "She's doing well, but she's struggling," Bradley said. "That hotel is a gem. We don't want to lose that and we don't want any business to have to close because of COVID." Additionally, the Lorain County Urban League will be able to offer rent assistance. It received $200,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds earmarked for coronavirus relief. CARES funding must be spent by Dec. 30. It cannot be used to fill budget shortfalls, this year or next, and must be used for COVID-19 related expenses. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.