Thursday, June 26, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 a.m.
Committee members present were Alderman Lampe and Alderman Kopplin. Also present was Robert Kufrin, Marie Pellett, Tom Rosandich, Steve Wilding, Mike Wargolet, Pete Joncas, Tom Bauer.
Item 2. Review and consider approval of minutes
Alderman Kopplin, seconded by Alderman Lampe, made a motion to approve the minutes of 6/4/03, 4/16/03, 3/24/03, 3/12/03, 6/27/02, 6/6/02, 10/19/01, and 10/2/01. All aye; motion carried.
Item 3. Consideration of various tuition reimbursement requests
The Committee considered tuition reimbursement requests from John Edwards, Danielle Baranek, and Jerry Biggart. Alderman Lampe made a motion to approve the tuition reimbursement requests subject to funds availability. All aye; motion carried.
Item 4. Review of arbitrator’s award on Police Clerks contract
The issue will be put on the agenda of the second Council meeting in July for information purposes only.
Item 5. Discussion on Council action regarding joint dispatching
Bob talked to the mayor about getting an item on the next Council meeting to authorize the city’s participation in the joint meeting and make committee appointments. Bob will work with South Milwaukee and Cudahy staff members to schedule an initial meeting. Bob asked Marie to put together a comparison of the labor contracts and benefits for the three communities.
Item 6. Discussion on non-union salary increases for 2003
The committee decided to wait for the budget veto from the state before making any recommendations.
Item 7. Discussion on adjustment for Public Health Nurse Supervisor
Alderman Lampe indicated that from she recalled, as noted in the minutes of previous meetings, that an adjustment would be made in the non-union salary ordinance.
Item 8. Discussion on Off-Duty Employment Policy for the Fire Department
Alderman Lampe asked if the policy was reviewed by Rob Buikema. She also questioned the limiting of the number of hours an employee could work at their secondary job.
An employee could potentially work so many hours at their secondary job that they start to take sick time from the city, and their secondary job may impact their performance while working for the city. The impact of an off-duty job for city employees varies with the department that they work for (ability to report during off-time). Alderman Lampe understood the desire to know what the employee’s other employment is, particularly when it could affect the city’s worker comp claims. Chief Bauer added that the few times he has denied a request for secondary employment was when it was in conflict with the city’s mission, that they wanted to use their city uniform on an outside job. Precedents and past practices have been established and we would be hard pressed to move without some objection from the union. The best way to handle off duty response issues are through bargaining the impact with the union during contract negotiations.
Alderman Kopplin requested a time off report for the past two years. This issue will be put on the next committee agenda. Alderman Lampe indicated that the city needs to reestablish an identification of employment that city staff has outside of their city employment.
The item was held to the next meeting.
Item 9. Discussion on Fire Department Drug Testing Policy modifications
Steve indicated that Chief Hammernik has the signature page with all of the Union’s signatures completed. Alderman Kopplin made a motion to accept the changes to the Fire Department Drug Testing Policy. Alderman Lampe seconded. All aye; motion carried.
Item 10. Discussion on the use of comp time by Fire union employees to attend school
In relation to Article 34 of the 1848 contract, Bob summarized by noting, “The issue revolves around personnel on shift fill-ins. Employees can be authorized to attend approved training and are called for a shift fill-in. Problems result.” Steve indicated that some steps have been taken to try to help in these instances and the rules for shift fill-ins have been changed and that the ordering in situation has been addressed. There are still situations that can arise when an employee wants to take a shift fill-in but they are scheduled for school. There is potential for a half time premium to be paid to make up the differential for the fill-in person to be gone for school during part of their fill-in shift. Only paramedics get overtime, firefighters don’t. To date the extra half time hasn’t happened yet, it’s been circumvented. The Fire Department operates at minimum staffing in excess of 75% of the time. Since there are educational requirements for the potential to advance in the department, we do not want to create an obstacle to employees to obtain the education needed to advance.
Alderman Lampe asked for a report in six months to show how many times this issue has arisen. The contract does not address the situation when an employee has an off day, has a class scheduled and is called for a shift fill-in. The procedure for shift fill-ins has changed. The premise has changed. The employee used to get charged if they were contacted and passed on the call-in opportunity and their name was moved down the shift fill-in list. Now, if you’re going to school on the day you’re called in, you don’t have to take the shift fill-in and you won’t get charged for it, so your name will stay at the same spot.
Steve will forward a copy of the new shift fill-in language to Bob for the committee to review.
Alderman Lampe directed the Fire Chief to re-institute the requirement that employees notify him of any outside employment, using the form proposed, amended to ask how many hours they expect to work at their secondary job. All department employees will be asked to complete the form.
The item will be held over to the next meeting. No action taken.
Item 11. Discussion on the implications of a hiring grant for 3 additional police officers
The Police Department was awarded a $225,000 grant; $75,000 per year for the next three years; $25,000 to offset the salary of each of three Police Officers over the next three years. Bob explained that the first year’s cost for a Police Officer or Firefighter is $62,000 to $64,000 if they take family health insurance. Tom will provide a report on staffing levels of cities comparable in size and activity level.
Item 12. Discussion on various leave requests
Kevin Seufzer’s request – no action taken.
Caesar’s vacation – give until July 2004 to use it.
Item 13. Discussion on obtaining deputy assessor services
Alderman Lampe made a motion to concur with the recommendation by Bev Buretta regarding the Deputy Assessor’s position and extending the CLT contract. Kopplin seconded the motion. All aye; motion carried.
Item 14. Discussion on the appointment of an acting assessor
The issue of back pay was held to the next meeting to clarify the length of time that the acting pay will apply to and the dollar amount.
Item 15. Discussion on various vacancies and recruitment progress
The committee reviewed the list of vacancies as outlined in Bob’s memo of June 23, 2003.
Item 16. The Committee may consider a motion to go into Executive Session at approximately 8:00 a.m. pursuant to Wisconsin State Statutes Section 19.85(1)(C ) and (e) for:
Item 17. The committee reconvened into Open Session at 11:40 a.m. to take action on any or all Executive Session items.
The meeting ended at approximately 11:40 a.m.