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Council Minutes of 10/1/2002
<br />reserve or rainy day funds that will not be available in 2003, and that is a common theme
<br />among many municipalities.
<br />President O'Grady said that he too had attended the live bums conducted by the fire
<br />fighters. It is a benefit to our community that they were afforded that opportunity. It was
<br />clear to see both the professionalism of the fire fighters and the value of the training.
<br />Councilman McKay, chairperson of the Finance Committee: 1) The committee met on
<br />Tuesday, September 24. Present were committee members Limpert and McKay;
<br />Councilpersons Miller, Dailey, Nashaz and Gazeau; Council President O'Grady; Mayor
<br />Musial, Law Director Dubelko, Finance Director Copfer, Safety Director Thomas, City
<br />Engineer Deichmann. The following items were discussed:
<br />Ordinance 2002-140, an ordinance amending Section 161.08 of the Administrative
<br />Code entitled "Military Leave Benefits" in order to extend the time period during
<br />which permanent city employees called up to military duty pursuant to executive
<br />order of the President or Act of Congress are entity to continue to receive city
<br />employee benefits from one year to five years and declaring an emergency. Finance
<br />Director Copfer asked the intent of this ordinance to be defined, such as does the loss
<br />of pay refer to the base pay or is that to include longevity, hospitalization, gun
<br />proficiency, uniform allowance, vacation time, attendance pay, etc. In her opinion,
<br />the ordinance needs to be more specif c. Mrs. Copfer also asked the Law Director if
<br />the city had to comply with the state statute which requires persons affected to be
<br />paid the difference in military pay or $500, whichever is less, over afive-yeaz period.
<br />The Law Director stated North Olmsted has home rule and thus is not affected. Mr.
<br />Limpert asked, if the service person is sent to another country, is health caze provided
<br />to their dependents? Safety Director Thomas answered that it would be. Mr. Gareau
<br />asked if anyone knew the pay received by the two police officers involved. Safety
<br />Director Thomas supplied the following information: Officer A, activated on
<br />11/8/01, hourly rate, $25.01; military hourly rate, $12.46. The difference between the
<br />military rate and the city rate, $12.55. The Police Department bi-weekly salary,
<br />$1,943.20; military monthly salary, $2,990.04. Total salary paid by the City of North
<br />Olmsted on 9/13/02 was $19,981.25. Total health care costs, $745.31; employee
<br />payroll deduction, $22.43; health care cost to the city $722.88, for a total of
<br />$21,471.87. Officer B, active duty date, 3/10/02, hourly rate, $25.01; military hourly
<br />rate, $18.95. The difference between the city and the military, $b.06; bi-weekly
<br />salary, $1,943.20; monthly military salary, $4,548. The total salary paid by the city
<br />through 9/13/02 was $b,30S.52. Total health care cost, $819.43; payroll deduction
<br />$106.53; health care cost to the city, $712.90, for a total of $7,944.38. Mr. Limpert
<br />made the suggestion that this ordinance be on a year-to-year basis for the city to have
<br />more control of the finances. Mrs. Copfer stated Westlake has an ordinance that is on
<br />a year-to-year basis and excludes vacation pay, sick time, etc. Mrs. Thomas asked if
<br />the issue of perfect attendance would or would not be included. Mr. Limpert
<br />wondered if departments other than the Police Department would require a sequel in
<br />contract negotiations and just where are we headed. Mr. Gazeau saw no problem with
<br />the legislation because the money was put into the budget, and no one is replacing
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