Town’s bank closed July 4 and 5; workers get paid Wednesday
The Century Council Monday night agreed to distribute paychecks on Wednesday, July 3, instead of Friday, this week due to the holiday and banks being closed.
Town Clerk Kim Godwin told the council that their bank, United Bank, will be closed Thursday and Friday this week for July 4th.
Councilwoman Ann Brooks suggested the town look into direct deposit for its employees, noting that this situation would not be an issue.
Godwin said she thought there is a fee associated with direct deposit and she would check into the cost again and get back to the council at a future date.
Councilman James Smith said they could just wait until Monday. Councilman Luis Gomez pointed out to Smith that some people cannot afford to wait a couple of days, as suggested by Smith, to have access to their paycheck.
“It's called learning how to budget,” said Smith.“We all have our difference of opinion, but I'm telling you, you have to learn to budget at some stage in your life, it's extremely important. I understand that some people may be in dire straits of needing their money right away, but it just happened to fall this time like this. It can't be the first time this has happened.”
Brooks reminded council members that checks given early in the recent past caused some checks to bounce, but that the problem could be resolved with a direct deposit.
“A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck,” said Gomez. “What they had last week is gone, so they are actually depending on this.”
“I think we need to give the guys maybe up to three to six months to go on ahead and do direct deposit, and let the chips fall where they may,” said Councilwoman Sandra McMurray Jackson. “I mean you give them a certain time to go ahead and get their paperwork in order and then, you don't have to worry about this.”
Brooks mentioned that some banks will give out a debit-type of card instead of a paper check also.
Councilwoman Jackson made a motion to pay the employees this Wednesday, provided the town clerk makes the payroll transfer prior to the checks being issued. Councilman Gomez seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Councilman Gomez asked Town Clerk Kim Godwin to verify to council members when the transfer is done.
