1992-12-01 CC Minutes Special
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ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE
December 1, 1992
Albertville City Hall
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Jim Walsh, Councilmembers Duane Berning, Mike
Potter, Mark Barthel and Donatus Vetsch, City Clerk Linda Houghton,
City Employees Ken Lindsay, Ann Culley, and Mike Rutkowski
Mayor Walsh called the special meeting to order. The purpose
of the meeting is to discuss the grievance filed with the Council
concerning the lack of employee input in establishing the 1993
budget concerning employee wage freezes.
City Clerk Linda Houghton explained that the employees have
presented a letter of grievance and have asked that this meeting
be set up to discuss their concerns with the Council.
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Ann Culley, acting as the group spokesperson, told the Council
that the employees did not attend any budget meetings because they
had been told that the Council would not address wages until
employee evaluations had been done. Since these evaluations had
not been completed at the time of the second budget meeting, the
employees understood that wages would not be addressed. After the
second budget meeting, Linda mistakenly understood and reported to
the employees that another meeting would be set up to discuss wages
as soon as the employee reviews were completed. Ann indicated at
that point, the employees felt that their only option was to file
this grievance.
Councilmen Berning and Potter stated they feel that the City's
Compensation Plan does not call for an employee increase in 1993.
Mayor Walsh stated he felt that the Compensation Plan was
established in a hurry in order to meet state guidelines and had
nothing to do with the 1993 wages. Potter stated that the legal
advice the Councilmembers received via mail tells them to follow
the City Comp Plan.
Culley stated that at the meeting last year when the Council
approved the Comp Plan the employees were told that this comp plan
would be reviewed annually.
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Potter pointed out that budget cuts had been made in all areas
and in all departments, not simpl y in employee wages. Ann
questioned what the decision to freeze wages was based on. Potter
and Barthel answered that the decision was mainly reached because
of lack of funds. Vetsch added that the wages currently paid to
the employees are higher than neighboring communities pay, although
he stated that he had not in fact compared job descriptions.
Excluding the Fire Department 1993 budget, Potter stated that
the wages and the benefits, including workers comp, the city pays
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its employees exceed 50% of the budget. According to Potter, the
norm in other communities is between 24-35%.
Linda pointed out FICA, PERA, and workers comp are not what
most peopl e consider "benefi ts", al though they are a cost of
operation.
Potter also pointed out that the costs he quoted do not
include overtime hours. He feels that the City is far in excess
of what other cities pay for employee wages and benefits. The
employees stated that overtime is mandatory, not optional, for
them.
Linda advised the Council that she has been informed that the
state will increase its local government aid payment for the last
half of the year by 8.5%. This extra payment can be used by the
City in any way the Council chooses.
Potter again stated his decision to freeze wages is based on
the availability of funds. Walsh stated that Linda has pointed out
there will be an additional $3,000+ from LGA payments in December
that the Council can use for wage increases, if they wish.
The audience was informed that job descriptions are available
for City employees if they wish to get a copy.
Barthel made a motion to continue this open meeting unti I
after the closed meetings are held to review job performance.
Vetsch seconded the motion. All voted aye.
Mayor Walsh reconvened the meeting after the closed employee
review meetings were held. He told the audience that employees
reviews had been discussed and it is his recommendation to the
Counci I that Ann Cull ey and Mike Rutkowski be offered a 3.5%
increase in wages. Walsh recommended that Ken Lindsay not be given
a raise.
After further discussion on how the 1993 could be revised,
Potter made a motion that this meeting be continued until Monday,
December 7, 1992, at 6:30 PM, to allow the Council to be able to
review the actual income and expenses for 1992 through November.
Linda was directed to provide the Council with those figures
through November by the end of the week. Berning seconded the
motion. All voted aye.
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