Bladensburg staff propose pay for tested bilingual skills; council to amend personnel policy in July

Town staff told the Bladensburg council on June 8 that a proposed differential-pay program for employees with verified language proficiency could help hiring and retention and improve service to non-English-speaking residents.

An interim police official described a program for up to 12 town employees who speak other languages. The plan would pay a modest hourly differential for verified proficiency: a basic proficiency stipend equating to roughly $1 per hour for service hours, and a higher-rate stipend for advanced proficiency — described in the presentation as an equivalent of $150 for an advanced certification test. Staff said testing would be administered by an external language-proficiency center and that results would be certified and approved through the town administrator.

Staff estimated the maximum worst-case annual cost at about $40,000 if every eligible employee were verified at the highest level and worked the assumed hours; a more-likely upper estimate discussed during council questions was in the neighborhood of $30,000, and a basic-proficiency scenario was estimated at approximately $26,700. The chief and staff said the program would not affect overtime multipliers.

Council member Brown asked whether speed-camera revenues could offset the program; staff replied that the funding would be allowable as a public-safety-related use of those revenues. Council members also asked about inclusion of non-Spanish languages (Korean, Nigerian languages were noted) and the possible inclusion of sign language as a future consideration.

Town Administrator Mr. Wood said the differential requires an amendment to the personnel policy; staff will return to the council in July with a formal personnel policy change and implementation details.

Ending: The council did not adopt the policy on June 8 but directed staff to draft the required personnel amendment and return for council consideration.