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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-HRC-2000-06-26 1 • _ HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Regular Meeting June 26, 2000 Committee Members Present: Paulette Manos, Joan Spielholz, Ed Hershey, Pat Vaughan, Josh Glasstetter Ad-Hoc Members Present: Schelley Michell-Nunn (HR Director) Staff Present: Dominick Cafferillo (Controller), Rick Basile (Police Chief), Margaret McCarthy (City Prosecutor), Andy Hillman (City Forester), Denise Malone (Administrative Secretary), Thys VanCort (Planning Director) Chairperson Manos called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. A. Agenda Review, Approval of Minutes &Announcements Chairperson Manos stated that Item F-1 (Personnel Items— Police Department) has been tabled until next month to allow discussion between the Police Chief and the PBA Union. The Committee reviewed the minutes from the May 22, 2000 meeting. Alderperson Vaughan stated that on page 4 of the minutes under Item F-2 (Planning Department) please correct to read "After discussion, the Committee recommended that due to incomplete information..." Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motion carried 3-0(Alderperson Glasstetter and Alderperson Spielholz were absent from vote). B. Employee Comments and Response. None. C. Chairperson's Report Chairperson Manos reported that she visited TCAT employees. The employees expressed their concerns about the following: 1. A major concern was that when the bus system was consolidated into TCAT, the employees • were never consolidated. So although there is a TCAT, the employees don't feel they work for TCAT but each of them work for either the City of Ithaca, Cornell University or Tompkins County; 2. The City's low salaries as compared to Cornell University for the same job; 3. Their interest in having a time clock instead of the built in 8% cash up; 4. Drivers not being consulted about route changes; 5. Employees working side by side and receiving different wages and benefits; 6. Nancy Oltz being overloaded and needing some assistance; • F Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 2 7. Since the merger, there is more Us vs. Them, meaning Employees vs. Management; less of a congenial atmosphere; 8. Some felt that everything at TCAT revolves around Cornell University; 9. When new Bus Drivers are hired, they have to complete an application for the City and Cornell University. The reason being is so that they can fill in for Cornell as well as the City. Chairperson Manos reported that most of their concerns were about this consolidation and what it has meant to them as employees as opposed to wages and conditions. It has not been too pleasant. It has not been a consolidation; they are all still working for the same employer. Chairperson Manos thanked the TCAT employees for meeting with her and sharing their concerns. D. Sub-Committee Reports 1. City Administrator Sub-Committee Alderperson Hershey reported that there are many variables that would effect the creation of a City Administrator. The Committee is looking to see if the creation of this position would cause any changes for the City Charter, especially if this position is given authority that are now seated by Charter to the Mayor. If changes need to be made to the Charter, this may delay getting a recommendation to the Mayor in time for the next budget cycle. This Committee still needs to clearly define the roles of the Mayor and the City Administrator and decide whether the City will be well served by creating the City Administrator position. Alderperson Hershey stated that this Committee would include the Mayor in future discussions and get a better understanding what this Committee is being asked to do. E. Executive Session Alderperson Hershey made a motion to go into Executive Session. Seconded by Alderperson Glasstetter. After Executive Session, the Committee took the following actions: 1. Police Department Alderperson Hershey made a motion that the starting salary for the Deputy Police Chiefs be set at $65,000 retroactive to their respective dates of hire/appointment and that they be eligible for all subsequent managerial increases that took effect January 1, 2000. Seconded by Alderperson Glasstetter. Motion carried 5-0. F. Personnel Items 1. Building Department The Building Department is requesting permission to fill the vacant Code Enforcement Officer position. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to hire Leah Marx as the Code Enforcement Officer on a full-time basis. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. • t Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 3 2. DPW— S&F The Department of Public Works (S&F) is requesting to amend their personnel roster by creating a Senior Tree Trimmer position. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made the following motion. Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan. Motion carried 5-0. WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works— Streets and Facilities/Parks and Forestry's personnel roster includes a Tree Trimmer position, and WHEREAS, the department has re-evaluated its functional and staffing needs, and WHEREAS, DPW-S&F has determined that a Senior Tree Trimmer would be of a greater benefit to the City, and therefore be it RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby amends the 2000 Department of Public Works— Streets & Facilities' Authorized Personnel Roster as follows: Delete: One (1) Tree Trimmer Add: One (1) Senior Tree Trimmer And be it RESOLVED, that T. Eric Woodward be appointed to the position of Senior Tree Trimmer at $10.61/hour, which is assigned to grade 31 of the 1999 CSEA DPW unit, effective immediately, and be it further RESOLVED, that the funds necessary for said amendment shall be derived from the departments existing 2000 budget. 3. DPW—W&S The Department of Public Works (W&S) is requesting to amend their personnel roster by changing the hours of the Senior Account Clerk Typist from 40 hours/week to 35 hours/week for a one-year period. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made the following motion. Seconded by Alderperson Glasstetter. Motion carried 5-0. • WHEREAS, Paige Rumsey has requested that her position be changed from a 40 hour/week position to a 35 hour/week position for the period 6/17/2000 through 6/17/2001, to accommodate her personal needs, and WHEREAS, the Water and Sewer Division is able to accommodate her request, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT V Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 4 RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of the Water and Sewer Division of the Department of Public Works be amended for the period 6/17/2000 through 6/17/2001 as follows: 1 Delete: Senior Account Clerk(40 hours) Add: Senior Account Clerk(35 hours) And be if further RESOLVED, that Paige Rumsey shall remain eligible for full-time retirement system consistent with the benefit provided to all other 35 hours/week employees. 4. Prosecutor's Office The Prosecutor's Office is requesting to hire Robert Sarachan as the Deputy City Prosecutor, which is a permanent part-time position. Ms. McCarthy stated that as a result of the salary survey, the minimum salary was increased thus causing no funds in the budget to cover benefits for this position. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to pass this request to Common Council and authorize the Chair to work with the departments involved to come up with a proposed salary. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Planning Department The Planning Department is requesting to amend the personnel roster by adding a Senior Environmental and Landscape Planner. After discussion, Alderperson Spielholz made the following motion. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motioned carried 5-0. RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby amends the Planning Department Personnel Roster as follows: • Delete: One (1) Environmental and Landscape Planner Add: One (1) Senior Environmental and Landscape Planner AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the position of Senior Environmental and Landscape Planner be assigned to the CSEA Administrative Unit at Grade 20, in accordance with the CSEA Administrative. 6. City Attorney's Office The City Attorney's Office is requesting to amend their personnel roster by changing the hours of the Confidential Secretary to the City Attorney from 35 hours/week to 40 hours/week. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to change the hours from 35 hours/week to 40 hours/week for the Confidential Secretary to the City Attorney. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motioned carried 5-0. Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 5 7. Mayor's Office Mayor Alan Cohen is requesting permission to hire Duane Twardokus as the Information Technology Director. After discussion, Alderperson Vaughan made a motion to hire Duane Twardokus as the Information Technology Director at $65,000 and to pay moving expenses up to $1,200. Seconded by Alderperson Spielholz. Motion carried 5-0. The Committee discussed the starting salary of managerial employees and determined that before a tentative offer is made, the Human Resources Department will do a salary evaluation. If the salary comes within the departmental budget and within the new hire range of the Management Compensation Plan, then the Mayor or the appointing authority has the flexibility to negotiate the salary within the new hire range. G. Work Environment Task Force— Report HR Director Michell-Nunn reported that there were four Data Analysis Sessions, the last session consisting of Senior Staff only. The employees reviewed the data and made recommendations. Senior Staff reviewed the employees' recommendation as well as making recommendations of their own. The Work Environment Task Force met and reviewed all recommendations made by the employees who participated in the Data Analysis Sessions. The Task Force developed long and short-term recommendations that will be presented at the Human Resources Committee meeting in July. H. Directors' Report. None. 1. Mayor's Report. None. J. Old Business 1. Employee Picnic The Committee has not met but HR Director Michell-Nunn reported that everything is on schedule. K. New Business 1. HR Department Staffing Proposal Chairperson Manos stated that the Mayor has asked HR Director Michell-Nunn to put together a composite of her staffing needs to see which ones could be addressed and to what extent. HR Director Michell-Nunn stated that she was charged with transitioning the Personnel Department into a Human Resources Department. Ms. Michell-Nunn stated that the HR Department would broaden its scope and it would be more strategic in the things it attempted to do. Ms. Michell-Nunn explained that by strategic she meant planning would be done now to handle the workload that would impact this office due to new economic development, the 1 Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 6 upcoming vacant positions because of the number of employees eligible to retire within the next five years, the recommendations coming from the Work Environment Task, etc. Several new programs have been implemented and needs to be overseen/coordinated (i.e. Recognition Award Program, Performance Management Pilot, etc.) Ms. Michell-Nunn stated that it is difficult to maintain these new programs due to lack of staff and the demand on a daily basis. Ms. Michell-Nunn is proposing for additional staffing so that the department can continue to handle the work in progress and future work. Ms. Michell-Nunn is looking at a professional position that would be responsible for the training component, a position that would focus on organizational development, a staff position that would be responsible with safety and health awareness and possible upgrades. 2. Quarterly Recognition Award HR Director Michell-Nunn reported that about 20 nominations were received. After careful review, the Quarterly Recognition Award Committee selected the top five. And from the top five, Laleh Archin was selected for coordinating the GIAC basketball tournament involving the Police Department. Apparently this was not her responsibility and she did an excellent job. The Building Department was also selected to receive the award for their ability to continue to operate a department under very stressful/tenseful times. Three finalists received a certificate of appreciation for their contributions and everyone else received honorable mentioned. Everyone has been notified. At the July meeting of Common Council, the two recipients of the Quarterly Recognition Award (Laleh Archin and the Building Department) would be announced. 3. Vision Statement Chairperson Manos stated that the need for a vision statement has come up again, most recently at the Senior Staff meeting. The Committee discussed the definition and purpose of a vision statement and who would be responsible for developing the City's vision statement, the HR Department or would each department create their own. After much discussion, the consensus of the Committee is that it is not interested in developing a vision statement at this time. L. Executive Session On a motion by Alderperson Hershey, moved by Alderperson Glasstetter, the Committee adjourned to Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations. After Executive Session, Chairperson Manos stated that the Committee discussed contract negotiations but no action was taken. Human Resources Committee Meeting June 26, 2000 Page 7 M. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:02 pm.