Agenda Packets - 1987/11/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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"EMO TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNC FROM: CLERK-ADMINISTRAT DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 1987 SUBJECT: PUBLIC WORKS AFTER HOURS CALL -OUT PR... In recent months the Citv's call -out practices for Public Works employees after hours has raised some concerns which I feel justifies a review and reevaluation of our current practices and consideration of improvements to those practices. At the time I began working for the City in 1980 our Department Head for the Public Works Department was a Public Works Supervisor who served both as Department Head and Foreman. This individual was assigned a City vehicle and pager and required to respond to all Public Works calls made on evenings, holidays and weekends. This practice was discontinued at the time this individual resigned his position as Supervisor due to the fact that the newly created Director's position was not a full time position and we were operating under a temporary organizational structure. Difficulties relating to this past practice were that it tied one individual down limiting their ability to travel and restricting the use of their free time. Also, under current IRS regulations the assignment of a car used for commuting and, if t. personal travel is taxable and must be reForted by the allowed, employer unless it is an emergency response vehicle, i.e. police, fire or ambulance. The call -out practice put in place at the time the previous practice was discontinued and is still in place at this time is a listing of the Clerk -Administrator, Department Heads and Public Works Foreman which is provided to the Ramsey County Dispatcher with the order being rotated on a monthly basis. These indi- viduals are called in the order listed and when one of them is reached the call is given to that individual for appropriate handling. The names of all of the public Works employees a-e also contained on this list and one of these individuals is called out should the Clerk-'.lministrator, Department Heads and Public Works Foreman not be available. Problems relating to this practice are as follows: 1. Not all Department Heads are familiar with or understand the Public Works operations to the point Ghat thev can respanc' to the majority of the calls. 2. No one is required to be available for call -out at any one time and, therefore, there are times when the Dispatcher on duty has trouble locating someone and is required to make several calls, a time consuming process. 3. Once a Department Head is contacted, they evaluate the situation, sometimes done by calling