The Orange City Council Tuesday agreed to buy the old Cove school on DuPont Drive for $10,000 so the sprawling, dilapidated building can be torn down and the debris removed.
The council also voted to end the city’s disaster pay for employees on Monday, April 20. City Manager Mike Kunst said the move is to “maintain the financial stability of the city.”
The city had started disaster pay on March 27. Under the policy, non-essential employees were told to stay home and they were paid full salary with benefits.
Essential employees, like police and firefighters, were given time-and-a-half pay.
City Manager Mike Kunst said some non-essential departments will be able to stagger employees who work beginning Monday. Those who need to stay home, for instance for children out of school, will be able to use vacation or sick time.
Kunst said the disaster pay, started because of the Covid 19 pandemic, needed to end so the city will have money to pay for another emergency, like a hurricane.
The city has been in negotiations to buy Cove school for the past few months. The council budgeted up to $200,000 to demolish the building, which has been abandoned for years after the West Orange-Cove school district sold it about 25 years ago.
The council held its third meeting through a phone conference because of gathering limit of 10 set for the Covid 19 pandemic. Mayor Larry Spears Jr., along with councilors Brad Childs, Mary McKenna, and Caroline Hennigan attended the meeting. Councilor Terrie Salter attended by phone.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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