Council adopts ordinance to reimburse $50/month for certain town employees' personal cell phones

The Sellersburg Town Council approved an amendment to the town's cell phone policy that reimburses certain employees $50 per month when they use personal phones for town business.

The ordinance, numbered 2025-OR-017, adds specified positions including the clerk-treasurer, deputy clerk-treasurer, executive secretary, sergeants of the police department, the billing office manager and billing coordinator to the list of reimbursed employees. Councilmember Scott moved to adopt the ordinance and Randy seconded; the measure passed unanimously.

Why this matters: the change formalizes a monthly reimbursement so employees who use personal devices for town business receive compensation instead of absorbing that cost. The ordinance text states it "supersedes any and all other previous ordinances that may be in effect" and will be in force upon passage.

Town staff read the ordinance on first reading and then voted to waive the second reading. On the second reading the council again approved the ordinance by roll call. The council also added the billing office manager and billing coordinator to the reimbursement list after discussion about which billing positions should be covered.

Ending: The measure passed 4-0 and takes effect immediately per the ordinance language; the council did not identify a budget appropriation during the meeting but staff will implement payroll or reimbursement processes to reflect the change.