Бывший мэр Слейтинтона подал в суд на муниципалитет за невыплаченные сверхурочные

Ex-Slatington manager files suit for overtime pay The former borough manager of the Borough of Slatington has sued the borough in a Lehigh County Court action, seeking in excess of $50,000 he says is owed him for overtime he worked during his tenure from 2020-2024. Daniel L. Stevens, 560 Main St., Slatington, filed the action against the borough in Oct. 22, 2025, alleging the borough violated state laws concerning overtime and also breached the contract it had with the ex-borough manager. The suit has been brought up repeatedly at Slatington Council meetings. Most recently, resident Kris Burek was at the meeting to ask about the case which is expected to be in court soon. Mayor Jeralyn Schoch spoke during the July meeting. “I have 36 right-to-know requests from former Borough Manager Dan Stevens, which start March 20, 2025,” she said. Sometimes there are multiple requests in a month. While we are compelled to provide them for our residents when asked, however Roy I would like to know how much time is spent on these requests?” Borough manager Roy Hambrecht said, “Some are fairly simple, some take an hour and half to two hours to find. It’s enough to throw a wrench into the works.” Schoch said, “So I just wanted everyone to know that while our employees are here to be working on all of our borough work, like submitting grants they have to stop for the right to know.” Schoch continued, “It has been brought to my attention that some Borough Council members are meeting and conversing with the former Borough Manager Dan Stevens. Now we were asked in a meeting by the solicitor, knowing that we are involved in a lawsuit by the former manager who is suing the borough not to converse with him. “Since it has been brought to my attention I am disappointed. We were elected to serve the people of this community, and I don’t feel like you are serving the community very well. I feel if you want to continue to do that, you should resign.” The action, filed by Neil D. Ettinger, Esq., of Ettinger & Associates, Whitehall, is a two-count complaint seeking an award of unpaid wages due Stevens, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest on all amounts due, attorney’s fees and costs of the civil action. The suit states Stevens was hired by the borough under a contract dated Feb. 6, 2020, that set the manager’s employment on the basis of a 40-hour work week for 52 weeks per year, listing the starting salary of $27.50 per hour. The agreement called for Stevens to keep track of hours he worked in excess of 40 hours per week, indicating the borough would give him compensatory (comp) time in lieu of additional pay. The suit states the agreement called for Stevens to track and share overtime records with the council president on a monthly basis and indicates he was allowed to accumulate up to 32 hours which would be paid to him at end of each fiscal year. Exhibits in the complaint list Stevens’ salaries at $27.50 per hour for 2020 and 2021, $32.50 per hour for 2022, $33.50 per hour for 2023 and $34.50 for 2024. In his pleadings, Stevens contends the borough’s position of not paying him for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week violated the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, saying the “comp” time arrangement vs. mandated overtime pay “willfully and recklessly” is against the state’s labor law. Stevens showed exhibits in the complaint that contend the borough owes him for 373 hours of overtime he accumulated, seeking time and a half compensation for them. The hours include 40 in 2020, 76 in 2021, 90.75 in 2022, 103 in 2023 and 63.25 in 2024. The former borough manager claims the hours were worked at the request of or as required by the borough. Stevens further charges the borough with refusing to pay contributions to his pension/IRA account as required by the contract for overtime he worked. He contends the borough owes a 9% contribution to his pension and asks the court to consider his loss of interest, investment and increase in value his IRA due to the borough’s negligence. Stevens states Slatington’s failure to provide the overtime compensation was “willful and deliberate” as outlined in repeated renewals of Stevens’ contract. Stevens contends the borough has failure to rectify the situation despite repeated requests to do so. Stevens submitted his retirement letter in August 2024.