October 21, 2013 - Employee Committee Meeting

10-21-13

Employee Committee- Strausbaugh, Bichsel (Chair) and Tharp

Tharp introduced proposed changes to the employee handbook and asked the committee for comments.

There were none at that time.

Tharp brought up the On Call Pay and stated it needed to be dealt with. Strausbaugh stated a plan needs to be in place to back up our guys when they are not available.

Bichsel asked us to take into consideration that Shearer’s lost ¼ of a million dollars over short outages. She stated the nursing home is reliant on generators and we need a speedy response.

Strausbaugh stated we need a back up plan and a schedule of who will be on call so we all know who is on duty.

Hilliard wants to make it worth the employees while when they come in to work.

Bichsel stated this has been on the table for too long. She stated at the next meeting, she wanted everyone to bring a plan and a schedule.

Strausbaugh stated that it is not his place or council’s place to dictate their schedule. The Supt. needs to set up a schedule for the department.

Bichsel stated that they are not willing to do that at this time.

Schwab introduced his proposal for stand by pay.

Bichsel stated she really liked the Mayor’s proposal.

Strausbaugh stated there needed to be a workable schedule for each department.

Bichsel asked hilliard to bring figures from the state for the next meeting.

Hilliard stated that the VA and SUPT should be the ones to come up with a plan and bring it to council. This is an administration thing. Tell the VA to get the details together.

Bichsel stated the VA hasn’t done that yet.

Tharp suggested waiting until the new VA takes his/her position but council could adopt a framework through which they can fill in the details.

Strausbaugh stated that we needed to come up with a pay schedule for everyone.

Bichsel suggested going with six straight hours  in addition to the automatic 2 hours they get when called out and work on the figures.

Tharp suggested Bichsel do a spreadsheet. Tharp suggested making a motion in the regular meeting to draw up the ordinance with the idea that the ideas could be amended. Bichsel adjourned at 6:46pm