MORGAN CITY — An increase in the salary of the assistant director was discussed and approved at the monthly meeting of the advisory council of the St. Mary 911 Communications District.

Louisiana State Police representative Scott Verret led the discussion on the salary adjustment.

“With the budget for the year in salaries, they’re well below their projected budget for this year and last year,” he said. The pay will be adjusted from $18.26 per hour to $19.23 per hour.

Jeannie Bergeron is the current assistant director.

“I would prefer to give her a little bit more myself,” Verret said. “I mean, she doesn’t complain, she does her job, she does a very good job.”

Chairman Mark Fryou responded.

“I think that’s a pretty fair raise, and a lot of people would be more than happy to get that. She does a nice job, but I also want to be careful not to …,” he said until Police Association Representative Gerald Minor interjected a question.

“Where does that put her in relation to other departments?” Baldwin Police Chief Gerald Minor asked.

After a discussion comparing the projected adjusted salary to the salaries of other similar positions in the state, the council voted to approve the adjustment to take effect on July 1.

Director Charlette Angeron updated the council on other 911 District matters, including some equipment at the call center that she said needs to be replaced.

“We have to replace the backup batteries in the battery system in our equipment,” she said.

“This was initially put in by a grant from homeland security. The original cost was $10,000. We have overheating on one of the batteries,” Angeron said.