04/15/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 4/15/2008 addition, the city's PERS contribution for employees is 17%, and 24% and 19.5% for police and fire employees. The costs aze in the neighborhood of between $750,000 and $1 million for bonuses for having worked here for a length of time. Everybody agreed that the longevity program is archaic and should be reviewed. City council brought forward a proposal to end the longevity program in that, as of April 30, 2008, any person hired would not be eligible for longevity pay in the future. Also, elected officials will not be eligible for longevity. Longevity is a rewazd to keep and attract good people, and good people, if they are elected, aze kept by voters and not by any pay that they may receive. A change was made in a Whereas clause which now will read: "Whereas rate ranges herein established by Council aze intended and shall serve as a guide to the administration in annually proposing to Council through the appropriations ordinance rates of compensation for various administrative and legislative employees, which compensation is determined by Council." The language was added to make it perfectly cleaz to anyone reading the ordinance that this is not intended to set somebody's pay, rather it's to give an operational range with which to work. The committee, after discussion, did unanimously recommend approval of the legislation and amendments to Council. The committee recommended passage under suspension of the rule as the rate ranges need to be in place in order to pay employees. Councilman Gareau made a motion to amend Ordinance 2008-49 to include the change in the Whereas clause, termination of longevity for elected employees, and the cessation of longevity for employees hired after April 30, as well as to include the ranges as established herein for each and every position. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bazker and passed unanimously. Ordinance 2008-49 amended. Councilman Ryan, chairperson of the Intro-Governmental Relations Committee: 1) The committee met on April 10, 2008 to discuss Resolutions 2008-46 and 2008-47. Committee member Councilman Orlowski was present in the room at 6:30 p.m., the scheduled time for the meeting to begin. The chairperson arrived later, and it was his decision to begin the meeting at 6:53 p.m. Resolution 2008-46 was considered, and the committee voted 2-0 to recommend passage to City Council. Resolution 2008-47 was considered, and the committee voted 2-0 to recommend passage to City Council. The chairperson subsequently spoke to committee member Councilman Gazeau and advised him of what had occurred. Chairperson Ryan explained his decision to go forward with the committee meeting as he did not want to hold up the legislation realizing that City Council has the ultimate decision whether or not to pass a resolution. Law Director Dubelko commented that, in light of Mr. Ryan reporting out both of these resolutions and in light of the advice he provided to Council in caucus, he would recommend that City Council refer these two resolutions back into committee for further consideration. Councilman Gazeau inquired of Councilman Ryan whether he would consider taking the legislation back into committee. Councilman Ryan answered he would have no problem doing so if that was the wish of the majority of Council. He felt it would not have been appropriate for him to not report out on the committee meeting as it took place and had been taped. That is why he had inquired as to what the official minutes are. Law Director Dubelko said it is not a question of the minutes; it's a question of the open meeting law requirements of scheduling a meeting for 6:30 p.m. and not 5