They said ‘yes’ to speedy approval of an AFSCME pact, but opted to slow the pace a little on other issues.

Ironton City Council Thursday evening opted to suspend the rules and give its contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees the required three readings at the same time.

The new contract gives all AFSCME employees a $.50 per hour pay raise. The increase is retroactive to the beginning of the contract year, which began on Feb. 1. The contract ends Jan. 31, 2007.

Mayor John Elam said checks containing the back pay will be available this week. Paychecks issued next week will reflect the new pay raise.

“I commend Kathy Elam in getting the checks ready,” Mayor John Elam told council. “If this passes tonight, she will have the checks ready tomorrow.”

But an ordinance to approve a supplemental contract with E.L. Robinson and Associates for additional work on the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan didn’t see similar action.

Councilman Richard Price recommended that council suspend the rules and give the matter the required three readings at that meeting but fellow councilman Bob Cleary disagreed.

“I’m going to vote no on this,” he said. “I think it should go before the finance committee before it has the third reading and final approval.”

“It’s an expense. It really should go before the finance committee,” council president Chuck O’Leary agreed.

In the end the move to suspend the rules failed with Price and Rick Meeks voting in favor of the idea and the other five council members, Cleary, O’Leary, Butch Huff, Rich Blankenship and Leo Johnson voting against the idea.

The matter was referred to the finance committee, which will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Ironton Fire Department.

Price’s request to suspend the rules and give second and third readings to an ordinance to purchase new police cruisers died for lack of second. That ordinance got second reading, as did the ordinance to purchase a new fire truck.