Smyrna leaders have adopted a hazard pay program for employees who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
The City Council on April 7 approved a resolution to pay these employees an additional $2 per hour on top of their existing salaries. Employees who qualify for this boost work in the police, fire, public works and community development departments.
Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton said a little more than 200 employees qualify for hazard pay, including officers, firefighters, sanitation workers and building inspectors.
Norton said the payments will cost Smyrna about $82,000 per month. It will be retroactive to March 20 and continue while the city is under a state of emergency.
The hazard pay will be funded by Smyrna’s contingency fund. Once that resource is depleted, the city will use reserves to continue the pay increase.
Smyrna notes these employees are considered at risk due to “an increased likelihood of injury, disease, or other negative consequences related to the performance of job duties” and because they have the potential to come in contact with the public.
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To curtail the spread of COVID-19, Smyrna has limited restaurants, coffee shops and "other places where food is offered to the public" to take-out service.
The city has also suspended disconnections for water service and waived late fees for unpaid customers for 60 days. While it's keeping its parks open, the city has closed pavilions, gazebos, playground and fitness equipment at those gathering spots.
Smyrna has shuttered businesses that provide services requiring "direct contact" with customers. These businesses include, but aren't limited to, nail and hair salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors and tattoo parlors.
The city has also banned public gatherings and events that include 10 or more people and closed bars, night clubs, skating rinks, gyms, trampoline parks and private social clubs. Grocery stores and day cares are exempt from the executive order.
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