No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-HRC-2001-01-22 ' HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Regular Meeting January 22, 2001 Committee Members Present: Paulette Manos, Ed Hershey, Pat Vaughan, Joan Spielholz, Josh Glasstetter Ad-Hoc Members Present: Schelley Michell-Nunn (HR Director), Alan J. Cohen (Mayor) Staff Present: Dominick Cafferillo (Controller), Bill Baker(CSEA Union Steward), Larry Fabbroni (Asst Supt), Thys Van Cod(Director of Planning), Denise Malone (Administrative Secretary) Chairperson Manos called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. A. Agenda Review, Approval of Minutes &Announcements Chairperson Manos stated that item E-2 (Personnel Items—DPW/Streets& Facilities) has been removed from the agenda and item E-5 (Personnel Items— Planning Department) has a resolution added. Chairperson Manos stated that approval of the December 18, 2000 minutes would be considered later to allow time for Committee members to read them. B. Employee Comments & Response Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator Bill Baker stated that he is here in the capacity of Union Steward for the CSEA Administrative Unit. Mr. Baker would like to bring to the attention of the City the following three issues: on-going grievances for Police Dispatchers, incorrect compensation of employees for shift differential and clarification on bereavement leave with regard to relatives of an employees domestic partner. Mayor Alan Cohen and Human Resources Director Schelley Michell-Nunn stated that several grievances relating to the issue mentioned have been resolved, and unresolved grievances are in arbitration. Ms. Michell-Nunn explained that there has been a correction in how shift differential calculations are being made. She stated that affected employees have been reimbursed for the last two years and that the Police Department is currently working on reimbursing the employees for the third year. Ms. Michell-Nunn stated that the actual stipulation in the CSEA Administrative Unit contract does not provide benefits for domestic partners. She will check to determine if a resolution exists that allows domestic partners to be treated the same as spouses. Mayor Cohen stated that the partnership has to be a registered domestic partnership to be eligible for benefits. Chairperson Manos thanked Mr. Baker for bringing these issues to the Committee's attention. Human Resources Committee Meeting January 22, 2001 Page 2 C. Chairperson's Report. None. D. Sub-Committee Reports 1. City Administration Alderperson Hershey stated that great progress has been made to identify similar cities in New York State and that a matrix would be developed. Alderperson Hershey stated that Controller Dominick Cafferillo would continue to search for cities that have a Mayor, and a staff person. Mr. John Gutenberger is negotiating with Cornell Institute of Public Affairs(CIPA). The Committee is attempting to gain the assistance of interns to create and undertake a survey of present City Administration/Directors, past City Officials and customers. The purpose of this survey is to get a sense of where we are and to have some idea of what works or doesn't work. Alderperson Hershey stated that a report should be completed by late spring. 2. Residency Requirement Alderperson Glasstetter stated that the first meeting has been scheduled for January 30, 2001 and that he is gathering information from the City Charter to see what are the various options. 3. E-mail_Policy Alderperson Vaughan stated that the Committee has met. The Committee consists of City Clerk Julie Holcomb, Information Technology Director Duane Twardokus, Human Resources Director Schelley Michell-Nunn, Alderperson Manos, Mayor Alan Cohen and herself. The Committee is looking at hardware base; e-mail archiving; policies on e-mail aging, deletion, appropriate use, content, harassment, education on ownership and Freedom of Information Law (F.O.L L.). Alderperson Manos will research what other places have as standards. IT Director Twardokus will research the technical aspect, aging and deletion policies. City Clerk Holcomb will research records on-line management. Alderperson Vaughan stated that even though e-mail is kept in electronic format, the City still needs to know the requirements and how to store the records. Ms. Vaughan stated that what would follow would not just be a policy process but will indude educating and implementing of the policies. Human'Resources Committee Meeting January 22, 2001 Page 3 E. Personnel Items 1. Building Department a. Request to Assign Senior Code Inspector&Zoning Inspector(PT)to Bargaining Unit The Building Department is requesting to assign the positions of Senior Code Inspector and Zoning Officer(PT) to the CSEA Administrative Unit at grade level 17 and 15 respectively. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. 2. DPW—Water& Sewer a. Request to Add City Environmental Engineer Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of City Environmental Engineer. The Committee had concerns regarding the financial impact and the need to create the position at this time. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to create the position of City Environmental Engineer effective April 1, 2001 to be funded out of the Capital funds for this fiscal year(2001). Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. b. Request to Add Data Processing Operator Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of Data Processing Operator. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. c. Request to Add Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motion carried 5-0. d. Request to Add Laboratory Technician Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of Laboratory Technician. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. Human Resources Committee Meeting January 22, 2001 Page 4 e. Request to Add Account Clerk-Typist Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of Account Clerk-Typist. After discussion, Alderperson Spielholz made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. f. Request to Add Junior Engineer Position The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the position of Junior Engineer. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motion carried 5-0. 3. Mayor's Office a. Request to Increase Drug Task Force Coordinators Salary The Mayor's Office is requesting to retroactively adjust the Drug Task Force Coordinator's salary by $2,395.98 for the time period of October 1, 1999 to April 3, 2000. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. 4. Planning Department a. Request to Add Planner II Position (20 hrs/wk) and Environmental and Landscape Planner Position (20 hrs/wk) The Planning_Department is requesting to amend the Personnel Roster by adding the positions of Planner II (20 hours/week) and Environmental and Landscape Planner(20 hours/week). After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. F. Directors' Reports a. Controller Controller Dominick Cafferillo stated that his office is working jointly with the Police Department to resolve the comp time/overtime issues in the Police Department. Human kesources Committee Meeting January 22, 2001 Page 5 b. Human Resources Director Human Resources Director Michell-Nunn reported that the Human Resources Department has been tracking the number of applications received, the number of applicants qualified for positions, the number of applicants interviewed, the number of applicants offered employment and the applicant's gender and ethnicity. G. Mayor's Report Mayor Cohen stated that he has asked Acting Building Commissioner Phyllis Radke to create an Electrical Inspector Permit Sheet similar to the Building Permit Sheet. Ms. Radke has been manually tracking this process and has generated income. Mr. Cohen stated that reports should be distributed on a weekly or biweekly basis. H. Old Business 1. Retirees Prescription Co-Pay— Report Chairperson Manos stated that she has received numerous calls and letters from retirees voicing their concerns about the increase in prescription co-pays and that copies of these letters have been passed on to Common Council members. Ms. Manos stated that she had asked Controller Dominick Cafferillo to research the cost of prescription co-pays for other local employers. Mr. Cafferillo explained that with the exception of two bargaining units, the co-pay cost has increased. Mr. Cafferillo compared the City's co-pay cost with Tompkins County, Ithaca City School District(ICSD) and BOCES. They are as follows: Cost of Cost of Maximum Generic Brand Name Days Supply Tompkins County 2.00 10.00 30 Ithaca School District 1.00 6.00 30 BOCES 0.00 5.00 30 City of Ithaca 2.00 10.00 90 (Proposed) Mr. Cafferillo stated that our contract says "that it may be filled up to a 90 day supply." So, the-90-day supply may not be issued in all cases. A number of reasons this could happen are that the physician is not willing to prescribe the medicine for 90 days, it is an antibiotic or it is a drug not used on a maintenance basis. Mr. Cafferillo also compared the City's health insurance premiums for City retirees with those of retired employees of Tompkins County, Ithaca City School District and BOCES. Human Resources Committee Meeting • January 22, 2001 Page 6 Tompkins County. Employees of Tompkins County are only permitted to use unused sick leave to purchase up to six(6) months of health insurance after retirement. Currently, retirees of Tompkins County pay between 50%-58% of the monthly premium, which currently is about $710/month. Tompkins County reimburses retirees for Part B Medicare. Ithaca City School District. Employees are not allowed to use unused leave time toward the purchase of health insurance after retirement. Premiums paid by retirees are based on years of service. Retired employees pay 20% of the increased cost. ICSD reimburses retirees for Part B Medicare. BOCES. Premiums paid by employees are based on years of service at retirement. Employees with less than 20 years of service at retirement pays 25% of the premium plus 100% of all increases in premium; employees with more than 20 years of service at retirement pays only 25% of the cost. City of Ithaca. Employees of the City of Ithaca can use unlimited leave time toward the purchase of extended health insurance. The current cost of medical insurance for family is about $528/month, with retirees paying 74%. A number of employees that retired prior to July 1, 1997 pay very little if anything for their insurance. The City also reimburses the retirees who have Part B Medicare. The Committee discussed the number of retirees on extended health insurance, what retirees pay in premium and how best to deal with changes in health insurance benefits. The consensus of the Committee members was that better communication is needed to inform retirees of changes and allowing the retirees the opportunity to present their concerns. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to adjust the prescription co-pay for retirees to$2.0Bfor generic and $5.00 for brand name and may be tilled up to a-90- day supply effective March 1, 2001. Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. New Business. None. J. Adjournment On a motion by Alderperson Vaughan, the meeting was adjourned at 9:34 p.m.