Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_95Nov22CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 2 MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 22, 1995 Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, and Hustad. Also present were Hoyt and Asleson. ABSENT Jacobs. COMMUNITY FORUM There was no one wishing to take advantage of the community forum. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 25, 1995 Minutes were approved by unanimous consent with a correction under "Information and Announcements". CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to approve the consent agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 1. Disbursements 2. Licenses 3. Promotion of Public Works and Parks Superintendent to step three 4. Authorization to contract with Casserly Molzahn and Associates as tax increment financing advisors POLICY AGENDA PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL POLICY Administrator Hoyt reviewed the staff recommendations regarding changes to the city's personnel policy. Many of the changes were made to clarify leaves with and without pay and to bring the policy into line with the Family Medical Leave Act. Other proposed changes included: allowing the administratorto maketemporary, seasonal, and as-needed employment appointments; pro-rating all benefits to regular, part-time employees; the addition of a winter holiday (December 24), the elimination of merit pay; clarified educational assistance policy; and the elimination of severance pay. Hoyt explained that severance pay was being proposed to be eliminated since most employees leave city service to better their own situation and need not be further compensated by the city. If the council wished to award a bonus upon severance or retirement to a particularly good employee or wanted to compensate alaid-off employee, they would still have that option on a case by case basis. The elimination of the severance pay policy is a benefit loss to current employees and might inadvertently City Council Minutes November 22, 1995 Page 2 2~~ penalize someone planning to leave the city very soon. If this is a concern, the council could phase out the severance benefit at a date in the near future, giving current employees an opportunity to use it. Councilmember Hustad asked how health care benefits would be pro-rated for part-time employees. Hoyt answered that any regular, part-time employee would be eligible to participate in the city's health benefits package but that the city's contribution would be pro-rated according to the number of hours designated for the position. For example, an employee working 10% time could buy into the same insurance package as a full-time employee, but the city's contribution to the premiums would only be 10% of that given to a full-time employee. Councilmember Hustad then proposed the elimination of the sick leave sell back policy. Hustad stated that the policy may inadvertently encourage people not to use their sick leave when they should stay home. Mayor Baldwin noted that his employer has a similar policy, which is meant to reduce the financial liability of sick leave payouts at termination. However, Baldwin stated, those problems are not as likely to be seen in a smaller organization. The council discussed the use of sick leave, noting that while some may have more need to use it (for sick children and family members, for example) sick leave should be seen as an insurance policy rather than as a matter of financial benefit. Councilmember Gehrz agreed with the idea of eliminating the sell back, but suggested that the policy not become effective until January 1, 1996 since there may be employees planning on selling back time this year. With respect to severance pay, the council agreed that it was not good policy to pay employees who are leaving the city as a routine matter. However, they did agree that it would be fair to give employees some advance notice of this benefit loss and not delete the severance pay clause until July 1, 1996. A motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to approve the revised personnel policy effective immediately, with the following exceptions: 1) the severance pay policy is to be eliminated effective July 1, 1996 and 2) the sick leave sell back policy is to be eliminated as of January 1, 1996. Motion passed unanimously. INFORMATION ON THE 1990 PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT TO A VACANT COUNCIL SEAT Councilmember Gehrz was elected to the office of Mayor effective at the first meeting in 1996. Since there will be only two years remaining in her council term, the 1996 council must appoint a replacement to serve out the term (January 1996 to January 1998). Mayor Baldwin, who has been on the council for three other such appointments, described the process that was used the last time there was a vacancy. The council advertised the opening and invited all the applicants to give a five minute presentation at a public meeting and on television. The council then each voted anonymously for three candidates that they would be able to support. All names taken from the councilmembers were considered further and were invited back for a second interview. After the interviews, the City Council Minutes November 22, 1995 Page 3 2~~. councilmembers were asked to anonymously vote for one candidate that they would support. The council then made their final decision from the final names submitted. The council will officially announce the opening and decide upon the particular process to be used once Mayor-Elect Gehrz takes office in 1996 and the seat is officially open. CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Hustad encouraged the council to read the copy of the Weber-Brandl report included in the council's agenda packet. Administrator Hoyt announced that Mayor Baldwin will be honored at the Ramsey County League of Local Governments dinner on December 13. She also announced that RCLLG was changing their meeting date and time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m. -l~.__ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary ~ ~ ~~ . Tom Baldwin, Mayor