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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-07-08city council minutesBook 26 REGULAR MEETING July 8, 1985 12:00 Noon The Meeting was called to order by ?Mayor McCluskey. Page 123 The Mayor requested that everyone stand and give the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Roll of the City Council was called with the £ollo members present: Mallea, Marcus, Cowles, Raymond, Norman, and Carter. Absent: none. (AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION) The Mayor asked if there was anyone from the audience who cared to bring anything before the City Council that was not on the prepared Agenda. As there was no one, the Mayor declared that the meeting would continue as outlined. NEW BUSINESS (DISCUSSION ON OVERTIME - RON REDMOND) The Mayor informed the City Council that the City Engineer requested that some considerations be given to the problems caused by the Fair Labor Law with regard to overtime work and compensation. The following memorandum was sent to the Mayor by Mr. Redmond: As you are aware, application of the Fair Labor Law to municipalities has severely affected the operation of all of our departments. The use of compensatory time as a vehicle to supplement our capabilities during times of need and emergency is no longer available to us. This adverse impact upon our service capability is multiplied by the one percent tax limitation imposed several years ago that forced personnel reductions to a bare bones condition. The current policy of no overtime payment and mandatory time off (at time and one half rates) within a very restricted time frame has and will continue to restrict the availability of our personnel to the point where we can't meet the needs of the community or City. The possible options available are to hire additional people or pay time and one half for overtime worked. Both of these options have a financial impact on our budget. Through this memo, I am offering a possible solution and suggested procedural policy to follow in order to reduce the problems we are going to face in the future. Additional people should not be hired because they incur a year around liability regardless of work load. Therefore, additional people should only be added when a year around work demand can be identified. Payment of time and one half incurs a liability only at time of need. My suggestion would be to adopt a policy of haying time and one half when overtime is worked up to a limit of four hours per person per two-week pay period. No provision would be employed through a reduction of working hours in a subsequent pay period to recoup the additional wages paid for the four hours identified. Any overtime worked over the four hours could be subject to a reduction of working time, depending upon work loads and emergency demands. As a rule, I believe the four hours would be sufficient time to cover most of our emergency overtime conditions and enable our superintendents to schedule for fully manned crews. On those few occasions where more than four hours Book 26 Page 124 are worked, the option would be available to pay overtime or reduce working hours, as work load permits. This policy would hopefully limit our overtime liability while preserving our workforce. Additionally, any policy concerning overtime should be applied equally to all departments and personnel. Within the departments of Public Works, for example, snow removal responsibility could be spread over all of our departments, thereby reducing the overtime liability and spreading overtime worked over all departments. In this manner, no one department would earn significantly more overtime than another. Finally, those situations or conditions when overtime work is justified need to be clarified. There are many questions - in this area. Mr. Redmond addressed the City Council. explaining his memo at some length. This suggested procedure would exclude the Fire and Police Departments. The conditions of overtime and when it would be used would be a policy established through the City Council. The guidelines for what constitutes an emergency would have to be quite specific so the employees would have something to follow. Mr. Redmond felt that if the City Council would approve this approach, it would give the Superintendent a little more flexibility. As it was now, they were coming up short handed when the employees took time off which could cause a problemm as well if there was an emergency. After a long discussion, the Council agreed that it seemed to be the right approach to the situation. They did request from Mr. Redmond that some feedback be requested from the Superintendents to determine how the plan was working particularly with regard to identifying what was an emergency. MOVED by Raymond, SECONDED by Cowles that the Citv Council support the concept with regard to overtime work and compensation as presented by the City Engineer with an accountability requested from the Departments regarding the emergency _. situations. MOTION CARRIED The Mayor also stated that in the event there was an emergency, he would like to have them at least try to call either the City Engineer or himself prior to proceeding. If they were unable to get either of them, they should then act in their own judgment. (DISCUSSION ON FIREWORKS) The Mayor said that this year the City of Caldwell had the finest display of fireworks than ever before. Not only in the air, but also the ground displays. The ground display was by courtesy of the Hecks who were present at this meeting. There was also the largest crowd the City has ever had for the display. Mr. Heck was then recognized by the Mayor and presented to the City of Caldwell a check in the amount of $905.13 and explained that this was 150 of the=ir proceeds from the two stands they manned during this year's Fourth of July. Mr. heck stated that they had hoped to give the City $1,000, but did not quite make that. tie felt that this was largely due to the fact that their two stands were located in probably the worst locations in the City. The Mayor explained at length how .letters have been sent out each year requesting donations for the fireworks and how successful it has been. However, the Fourth of July fireworks has become one of the major promotional activities in the City of Caldwell. Boise just recently determined that they would not have fireworks Book 26 Page 125 anymore which makes Cal-dwell the number one in the Valley. The Mayor further said that he would like to contain in some way the selling of fireworks within the City to those stands that would be willing to give to the City fifteen percent of their proceeds. This would enable the City to improve the display. Mr. Heck was interested in proceeding in this manner and would like to have four stands in the City of Caldwell. The suggested locations for the stands were at Albertsons, Paul's I-G.A., R & 2 Market, and M & W Market. The Mayor further informed the City Council that only one of the present stands belonged to a local organization; the rest were supplied from out of State companies. Because of this fact, the Mayor felt that it did not show discrimination. It was the intent of the mayor to write to these four stores to request that they allow Rocky Mountain Fireworks to locate their stands on their property. Both Robert Heck and Dennis Heck spoke to the City Council stating their support of the mayor's idea. The Fire Chief also reported that the display this year was outstanding and that the Hecks did a great job with the ground displays. The Council discussed the Mayor's proposal at some length. Councilwoman Marcus stated that she felt a legal opinion should be obtained from the City Attorney. The Mayor said that it was his feeling that a letter could be wcitten to the stores without a legal opinion. No action was really necessary at this time, but the Mayor did want the Council to be aware that he was planning to request permission from the stores to have the stands on their property for the next year. COMMITTEE REPORTS) Councilwoman Mallea informed Council that she attended the presentation by the Mayor at the Park on the Fourth. She felt it was very well received. The 25th Army Band was very good and the booths at the Park went well. There was to be a meeting at noon the next day regarding the appeal of Mr. and Mrs. Russi. Councilman Carter commented that the restaurant at the Airoort was now opened again. It was leased to Toby Brady from Middleton and will operate from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Councilwoman Marcus said she would like to compliment Jefferson Junior High School for the check for the Statute of Liberty at the Park. MAYOR'S COMMENTS) The mayor read the following letter received from Walter Ono: 1 would like to use this method of taking the opportunity to invite the members of the Beautification Committee, Ernest Starr, one member of the Canyon County Commissioners and Al McCluskey, Mayor of Caldwell, to a beautification committee meeting on Wednesday, July 10, 1985, at 10:00 a.m. at the Namna City Hall Council chamber. we will di scuss the possibility of a County-Wide beautification, or at least the impact areas of the surrounding cities so that we may get some cooperation from the commissioners to develop and adopt a code towards that end. Please plan to attend as, your help is needed and appreciated. The Mayor informed the City Council that he planned to attend this meeting and if the Council members had any suggestion, he would appreciate hearing their. The Mayor also stated that he received a letter from Agnes momberg Creech which was as follows: Boole 26 Page 126 My husband and I have just returned from Caldwell - my home town - and I want to commend you and what you and the City Council have done to improve the "looks" of Caldwell. I just couldn't believe the change of Kimball and Main Streets since our last visit home, I felt so proud to walk down town and see what has been done to the buildings, etc. The trees have given the streets such a clean, cool. loot and have added a lot to the scenery. it has been quite a few years since I moved away from Caldwell., but we spent all our vacations there as long as my parents were alive. And now we still go "back home" to visit old friends. It always gives me such a "lift" to reminisce over past times with good friends. -- Keep up the good work. You are doing wonders. The Mayor also informed the City Council that he was presented a cbeck that morning in the amount of $1,500 by the Caldwell Community Civic Building Association for I.L.O.T. This Foundation was trying to build enough money to perpetuate the landscaping at the Interstate without using tax dollars. (EXECUTIVE SESSION CALLED) The Mayor stated that he would request a motion from the City Council to convene into an Executive Session at this time for the purpose of discussing personnel. MOVED by Norman, SECONDED by Ma.11ea that the City Council convene into an Executive Session pursuant to the Idaho State Code, Section 67 -2343 for the purpose of discussing personnel. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Norman, Mallea, Marcus, Cowles, and Carter. Those voting no: none. Abstain: Raymond. Absent and not voting: none. MOTION CARRIED The City Council convened into an ]Executive Session which was adjourned at 1:15 p.m. APPROVED AS 1985. written THIS 15th DAY OF July I c;aunczl.ptl o i 11 CO�1nC C.rS " Z_o bnci16eYS0 ATTEST: '/ City Clerk's Mayor r-nuncilperson Col r CQt7nC�.1pEErSOn