By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—Hoover municipal employees will no longer have to wait as long to reach their maximum salary, as the Hoover City Council approved changes to the city’s employee compensation plan during a July 6 meeting.

The council unanimously voted to shorten the employee compensation plan from 25 years to 15 years, effective Aug. 2. Under the amended plan, employees will receive a 4-percent increase in pay “for each year on the job,” Hoover Councilman John Lyda explained.

“It’s really a benefit for the employees,” Lyda said.

Representatives from both the Hoover police and fire departments were present at the July 6 City Council meeting to voice support for the changes.

“It’s tougher to get the best of the best now,” Hoover Battalion Chief and Chief of Operations Ben Allison said. “We’re competing against other cities who are topping out at 10 to 12 years… We are becoming a stepping stone for many other cities.”

Allison said he hoped the amended employee compensation plan would help the fire department draw a large number of qualified applicants.

“We’re hoping and we’re thinking this will help us in the market place to attract (candidates),” Allison said. “(Hoover) is a great place to work.”

The employee compensation plan was extended to 25 years as an adjustment to “tighten the belt financially” following the economic downturn in 2009 and 2010, Lyda explained. The adjusted plan will impact all municipal employees.