HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&O Minutes 2005-05-12 D raft D raft Draft
Town of Ithaca Personnel Committee Meeting
May 12, 2005 , Town Hall
1 : 30pm
Members Present: Supervisor Catherine Valentino ; Rich Ten Kate , Working
Supervisor; Larry Salmi , Heavy Equipment Operator; Sue Ritter, Asst . Dir of
Planning ; Dani Holford , Senior Typist
Absent : Councilman Bill Lesser; Councilman Peter Stein
Support Staff : Judith C . Drake , Human Resources Manager
Others Attending : Paul Tunison and Larry Parlett , SCLIWC ; Jonathan Kanter,
Director of Planning ; Bernie Morse , Automotive Mechanic Asst
Call to order: 1 : 30 p . m .
Agenda Item #2 : Review Minutes of March 16, 2005 Meeting :
Approved .
Agenda Item #3 : Persons to be Heard :
Bernie Morse appeared to express his concern about the uniforms if they
are to go to an allowance instead of having them provided by a service . See
below.
Agenda Item #4 : Discuss Uniforms/Allowance for Public Works :
Bernie and John , in the shop , are the largest users of coveralls — can they
keep them ? The rags and carpets are also provided by the current uniform
service . What will happen to them ?
Judy agreed there are still some things we may still have to contract for.
Judy asked Bernie what his major concern was . Bernie stated that coveralls are
his biggest concern— doesn 't want to take home to clean .
There was discussion as to whether coveralls should be provided by the
Town or employees (other than mechanics) would have to use their allowance to
purchase . The consensus is that the Town should provide the coveralls .
Cathy had a concern that if we use a clothing allowance instead of a
service — will the employees still be identifiable to the residents ? Judy said that
she discussed this with Fred Noteboom and referred to Bolton Point' s policy.
They have an allowance and the Commission pays for their logo and the
employees name to be put on clothing because they are more one on one with
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residents and business employees . Fred believes that since the Highway
employees usually are in groups and in a Town vehicle that would identify who
they are , they wouldn't need I . D . on the shirts . Cathy pointed out that we have
Town identification cards also . Judy stated that Fred doesn 't think we need to
have logos or names on the clothing .
Judy talked about the current costs of the uniforms using the service and
what the cost will be using an allowance . Although moving from a service to an
allowance the Town will be paying more , it becomes more of a fixed cost. X
number of employees receiving X amount of dollars as opposed to using a
service whose rates the Town doesn 't control and employees currently not taking
advantage of service may in the future . Using the allowance is fairer and a
known cost (easier to budget for) .
The proposal that Cathy, Judy and Fred came up with is a clothing
allowance of $220 . 00 in addition to the $ 100 . 00 for safety-toed shoes . If the
Town decides to go with the clothing allowance , it will be paid out in January
each year along with the safety-toe shoe allowance .
Larry Salmi explained that the high dissatisfaction rate among the
employees for the current uniforms led them to ask for an allowance in lieu of the
service .
Cathy said that this would be presented to the Town Board as a project
that we would try for a year to see how everyone likes it. Committee agrees to
send to the Town Board as a recommendation .
Larry Parlett pointed out that although they budget for everyone at Bolton
Point it's rare to have everyone use the full amount since it is based on
reimbursement and not a lump sum .
Agenda Item #5 : Discuss Draft — 2006 Wage Scale :
Judy explained that the draft shows a 3% increase across the board on
the job rate with a minimum of $ . 50 per hour. The last two classifications ( I & J)
were below the $ . 50 so they had to be moved up to that minimum . She pointed
out that the hiring rates will not be increasing in 2006 — they will remain at the
2005 rates . She went on to explain that while creating the draft she incorporated
an hourly rate for the salaried people . This will make it easier for paying vacation
buy back and using the sick time to pay for health insurance at retirement .
Rich Ten Kate expressed that there is a little "heartburn" down at the
Highway in regards to the percentage . We went through and did all the
exhaustive research to get the categories to where they should be . He doesn 't
begrudge anybody a cost of living increase , but a loaf of bread cost him the same
amount as anybody else . That is why there already was a separation between
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the categories . Cathy explained that when they did the percentage it really didn't
jeopardize the system this year. That is why they are not saying that a flat
percentage would be a continuing process . Rich said that he thinks people may
understand that for this year only. Cathy went on to say that we definitely do not
want to get the categories out of line . Judy explained that the problem with
doing a flat dollar amount causes the lower classifications (laborer) to become
out of whack with the market — they start getting paid more than the competitive
market , which can hurt us as much as paying less , then market. There is
another program that she had presented to Cathy for coming up with increases .
Set a flat dollar amount and prorate it based on the differences that were
established between the different classifications . Basically, it was a $ . 05 to $ . 07
difference as you moved down the scale .
Rich pointed out that there are currently people above job rate — is that
going to continue or are you going to keep people at job rate . Cathy explained
that the people that are above job have been here awhile and we cannot freeze
their wages — they need to receive at least a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) .
Rich clarified his question — will others rise above job rate . No . The job rate will
increase each year — keeping people from going above it .
There continued to be discussion about how long it takes for people to go
from hire rate to job rate along with some history on how the Town 's increases
use to work (hiring to job rate) . There was also discussion on how the
classifications were set up — there are several things that factor into a
classification — knowledge , education , stress level , internal/external contact,
committee work, etc. Cathy pointed out that there is no perfect salary scale
system . You have to try to get as close as you can to a fairness level for
everybody . Judy reminded the committee that having two systems was
mentioned in the last meeting . She doesn 't recommend this and believes it
would cause more problems then trying to work with the current one .
Jonathan Kanter expressed his wishes not to revisit the flat dollar amount
each year. Cathy prefers to discuss it and see what works out best for that year.
Judy informed the committee that the wage scale would be on the June
Town Board agenda for discussion only.
Agenda Item #6 : Others .
Sue asked if there has been any discussion about Health Insurance .
Cathy stated that it is her intent when she presents her budget to the Town Board
it will maintain 100% payment of employee's health insurance . We might be
looking at some design changes in the plan , but we will talk to people about that.
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Judy gave the committee some information regarding the recent approved
union contracts at the City of Ithaca . For the first time employee' s will have to
pay a small percentage for health insurance .
Cathy said she has philosophical reasons for wanting the Town to
continue paying 100% of the health insurance . If the Town pays the full amount
we are guaranteed that everybody has coverage . When employees start paying
part of the premium they can opt out. Then you have people not in the health
system anymore and they are going to the emergency room on a regular basis
for their treatment. It' s important for employers , if they can , to pay 100% of the
premiums .
Judy let the committee know that the Flex Spending Plan is going very
well . About double the people then was expected signed up for it. We will look
at increasing the allowable amount next October.
Judy shared what she recently learned regarding Domestic Partners and
health insurance . The difference between what the Town pays for the employee
and what the Town pays to include the partner is a taxable benefit (federal , state ,
FICA and Medicare) to the employee . Say someone goes from an individual
policy @ $300 to a double @ $500 — the Town has to tax the employee on the
$200 difference . Under IRS regulations a Domestic Partner is not a dependent.
If the Domestic Partner can fit the criteria of a dependent the Town does not
have to tax .
Adjourned : 2 : 40 p . m .
Next Meeting : Thursday, June 16 , 2005 from 1 : 30-2 : 30 at Bolton Point
Conference Room
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TOWN OF ITHACA
SETTLEMENT WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY (00 2005 TOWN AND COUNTY TAXES Q
SUMMARY OF TAX COLLECTIONS FOR
TOWN OF ITHACA - 2005 TOWN AND COUNTY TAXES
TOWN OF ITHACA WARRANT $ 4,954,665 .62
TOMPKINS COUNTY WARRANT TO COLLECT $ 7, 1485817 .69
TOTAL WARRANT $ 1291039483.31
PAID TO TOWN OF ITHACA SUPERVISOR:
DATE: 1/21 /2005 CHECK # EFT $ 21355 , 152.59
DATE: 1 /27/2005 CHECK # EFT $ 216121213 .03
DATE : 2/7/2005 CHECK # EFT $ ( 12,700.00) OVERPAYMENT
TOTAL PAID TO TOWN OF ITHACA SUPERVISOR 1/1/05: $ 499549665.62
TOTAL WARRANT BALANCE TO COLLECT: (TOMPKINS COUNTY) $ 791489817.69
LESS: PUBLIC SERVICE AND SPECIAL FRANCHISES
COLLECTED DIRECTLY BY BUDGET & FINANCE $ (326,750.08)
LESS : SECOND PAYMENTS ON INSTALLMENTS TO BE
COLLECTED BY BUDGET & FINANCE $ (529,058 .40)
SUB-TOTAL BALANCE : $ 692939009921
- ---PAYMENTS TO COUNTY:
DATE: 2/ 10/2005 CHECK # 707 $ (4,9735545 .02)
DATE: 3/ 1 /2005 CHECK # 709 $ (750,000.00)
DATE: 4/ 1 /2005 CHECK # 711 $ ( 100,000.00)
DATE: 5/ 1 /2005 CHECK # 716 $ ( 150,000.00)
DATE: 6/ 1 /2005 CHECK # 718 $ (50,000.00)
DATE : 6/10/2005 CHECK # 719 $ (34, 848 . 82)
LESS TOTAL PAYMENTS TO TOMPKINS COUNTY: $ (63058,393 . 84)
SUB-TOTAL BALANCE : $ 234961537
LESS UNPAID (WHITE SHEETS) TAXES FOR 2005 : $ (234,314 .42)
ADJUSTMENT - BILL # 911 HOLDSWORTH $ (299.78)
WRITE OFF - BILL # 4949 NEW YORK STATE $ (0.91 )
WRITE OFF - BILL # 4927 NEW YORK STATE $ (0.26)
BALANCE AS OF JUNE 109 2005 $ (0000)
SET ;7NT REPORT PRE D BY:
o
DEBORAH KELLEY
RECEIVER OF TAXES
I, HELEN C. BEACH, HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF $ 34,848 . 82 FROM THE
TOWN OF ITHACA RECEIVER OF TAXES FOR SETTLEMENT IN FULL FOR THE
YEAR 2005 TOWN AND COUNTY T��ARRAT. d"
HELEN C, BEACH, FINANCE MANAGER
TOMPKINS COUNTY BUDGET & FINANCE
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