Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council February 25, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 12 <br />• provider and that is in order to keep costs down for the City. The program is dependent on a <br />City Administrator Miller indicated the City is correcting a decision made by the Finance <br />Director to give one employee of the City a benefit not provided to any other. She then <br />commented that if the City does make an amendment in the personnel policy she has been told <br />the City would have to provide the benefit to all but, there is a cost to do so. <br />certain number of people participating in the program. She also commented that Mr. Burn did <br />say that the City could decide to amend the personnel policy to state that employees do have an <br />option to elect to take a cash payment in lieu of participating if they have health care elsewhere <br />but the way the personnel manual currently reads it does not give that option. <br />Mayor Sonterre indicated Council has tried to keep its sites on how the personnel policy reads <br />presently and make decisions based on following the procedure as it exists today and focus on <br />being consistent. He then indicated there has been a debate as to whether change is necessary but <br />Council has agreed to base its decision on the facts before Council at this time. <br />Mr. Serfling indicated the letter of the word of the Collective Bargaining Law states that the <br />employer cannot unilaterally change benefits. He then suggested the City negotiate a <br />memorandum of agreement that would apply until negotiations are finalized. <br />City Attorney Riggs clarified that Council has before it a situation that was not authorized by <br />Council and could not be authorized by Council because it is in violation of the master contract <br />with HealthPartners. He then stated that, with due respect, it is a situation that the City cannot do <br />and that is why Staff took steps to rectify the indiscretion of a previous staff member. <br />Mr. Serfling indicated there is still a way to resolve this if Council would direct Staff to sit down <br />with the union and HealthPartners to discuss it. <br />Mayor Sonterre explained that, even with a memorandum of agreement, if the City made a <br />provision for one staff member to be compensated for supplemental insurance it would then <br />afford that right for other staff to request supplemental insurance. <br />Mr. Serfling said he did not believe continuing Ms. Norquist's supplemental insurance by way of <br />a memorandum of agreement would afford other City employees the same rights if the document <br />were drafted properly. <br />City Administrator Miller indicated she has information that the City cannot discriminate against <br />employees whether in favor of age or by providing a benefit to one employee that is not provided <br />to other employees. She then indicated the actions were taken to correct a situation that should <br />not have been. She further indicated that, if Council wishes to direct her to do so, she could <br />amend the personnel policy. <br />Council Member Thomas stated this is not a matter for negotiation and is not part of the union <br />• negotiations. She then stated it is nice to say "let's sit down and work something out" but, for <br />