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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-HRC-2003-08-25HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Regular Meeting August 25, 2003 Members Present: Alderperson Peterson, Alderperson Blumenthal, Alderperson Cogan, Alderperson Mack, Alderperson Hershey, Acting Mayor Patricia Pryor Staff Present: Schelley Michell-Nunn (HR Director), Steve Thayer (Controller), Liz Vance (Recreation Coordinator), David Barnes (Deputy Police Chief), Andy Olmetti (Health & Safety Coordinator), Denise Malone (Administrative Secretary) Others Present: Members of the Media Chairperson Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. A. Agenda Review, Approval of Minutes & Announcements There were no announcements or changes to the agenda. The Committee reviewed the minutes from the July 2003 meeting. Alderperson Blumenthal requested that the minutes under Item J.2 – City Administrator Local Law reflect that “Alderperson Blumenthal offered to work on the language for the Common Council meeting since the resolution was a rough draft”. After discussion, Alderperson Blumenthal made a motion to approve the July 28, 2003 minutes as amended. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motion carried 5-0. B. Employee Comments & Common Council Response. None. C. Chairperson’s Report. None. D. Affirmative Action Advisory Committee Update. None Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 2 E. Sub-Committee Updates 1. Department Head/Common Council Retreat Chairperson Peterson stated that the Sub-Committee working on communications between Common Council, the Mayor and Department Heads would meet this week to finalize the report from the retreat. A report would be given at the next Human Resources Committee meeting. F. Personnel Items 1. Youth Bureau a. Request to Amend Personnel Roster (Recreation Supervisor) The Youth Bureau requested to amend the Personnel Roster by deleting one (1) Recreation Supervisor position (35 hrs) and adding one (1) Recreation Supervisor position (20 hrs). After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal. Motion carried 5-0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda. b. Request to Amend Personnel Roster (Youth Development Program Leader) The Youth Bureau requested to amend the Personnel Roster by reducing the hours of one (1) Youth Development Program Leader position from 35 hrs/wk to 25 hrs/wk and to transfer $1,924 from Account A7310-5110-1206 to Account A7310-5120-1206. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Hershey. Motion carried 5-0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda. c. Request to Authorize a One-Time Increase of Managerial Leave Time Mayor Cohen requested that Allen Green, who was appointed Youth Bureau Director at the August 2003 Common Council meeting, receive a one-time additional seven (7) days of annual leave that was given to all managerial Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 3 staff on the payroll as of January 1, 2003. After discussion, Alderperson Blumenthal made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Acting Mayor Pat Pryor stated that Mayor Cohen also requested that Mr. Green’s appointment as Youth Bureau Director be made retroactive to the date he was appointed as Acting Youth Bureau Director. After discussion, Alderperson Hershey made a motion to amend the original motion to include this request. Seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal. Motion carried 5-0. On the main motion, the motion carried 5-0. G. Directors’ Reports Human Resources Director Schelley Michell-Nunn made the following reports: 1. 2nd Quarter Injury & Loss Report Employee Health and Safety Coordinator Andy Olmetti reviewed with the Committee the 2nd Quarter Injury and Loss Report for 2003. Mr. Olmetti reported that the total number of reported claims during the 2nd Quarter of 2003 increased by 44% as compared to 2001 and 25% as compared to 2002. Mr. Olmetti explained that the reason for the increase in total reported claims for 2003 reflects a change in reporting strategy. Starting in 2003, all claims are reported, whereas in previous years only claims that involved medical treatment were filed. Mr. Olmetti reported that the number of claims with payment during the 2nd Quarter of 2003 is 39% less than 2001 and 69% less than 2002. The incurred losses decreased significantly compared to the previous two years. This is largely the result of not being impacted by a severe loss. Similarly, the number of losses in excess of $10,000 has decreased. Mr. Olmetti reported that slips and falls, followed by strains, continue to dominate the loss experience for 2003. Mr. Olmetti stated that the City’s current positive direction of lower incurred worker’s compensation losses could continue to be mitigated through safer work Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 4 practices. In conjunction with Travelers Insurance, the City is mapping out strategies and programs that define employer and employees accountability and responsibilities as prescribed by OSHA and PESH legal regulations. These strategies and programs will lay out policies and procedures for accident investigation, safety work practices, training requirements and forms of auditing progress. The Committee thanked Mr. Olmetti for the report. b. Return to Work Program HR Director Michell-Nunn reported that a representative from Travelers Insurance presented the Return to Work report to Senior Staff. A design team would be created to deal with employees who return to work. Ms. Michell-Nunn stated that there might be a 20% reduction in workers’ comp incurred losses when this program is in place. H. Mayor’s Report. None. I. New Business 1. Extension of Health Insurance Coverage in the Event of Possible Layoffs HR Director Michell-Nunn stated that this item was put on the agenda to allow Common Council to start discussing what the City would be willing to offer (i.e. extended health insurance coverage, EAP services, etc.) employees in the event of possible layoffs. Ms. Michell-Nunn stated that the intent is not to pass anything tonight but to prepare the City to provide employees with information or support should layoffs happens. After the Committee discussed different options, Alderperson Cogan made a motion that whereas in 2003, Common Council passed a resolution allowing employees to use a portion of their sick time toward extended health insurance, and whereas it is the intention of Common Council to make a similar allowance in the 2004 budget, resolved that Common Council request the City Controller include said calculations in all of the projections of savings that may result from any layoffs. Motion failed due to the lack of a second. Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 5 The Committee asked the HR Director and the City Controller that a report be given at the next meeting on the number of employees who took advantage of last year’s offer and the associated cost and that unions be contacted and allowed to suggest ways the unions could participate in cost saving measures. The Committee will continue this discussion at next month’s meeting and during the budget discussion as well as make a report to Common Council. The Committee asked HR Director Michell-Nunn to suggest other ways that the City could help employees in the event of layoffs. 2. Amending Charter Regarding Department Heads Appointment of Deputies & Staff The Committee reviewed the Local Law amending Sections C-5 and C-11 of the Ithaca City Charter respectively to transfer from the Mayor to certain Department Heads the power to appoint their respective deputies, and to replace the Mayor with the Police Chief as Head of the Police Department. Alderperson Blumenthal made a motion to move the Local Law. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Amending Resolution: The proposed local law removes the Mayor as head of the police department. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal, to amend the Local Law under Section 2. Police Department – Section C-11. Mayor, restoring the Mayor’s powers as head of the Police Department. “A The Mayor of the City of Ithaca shall be the chief executive officer thereof and shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Common Council. B. Powers and duties. (1) It shall be the duty of the Mayor: “To take care that within the city the laws of this state and the ordinances and bylaws passed by the Common Council shall be Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 6 faithfully executed and, as head of the police of said city, to arrest or cause the arrest of all persons violating the same.” Ayes (4): Peterson, Blumenthal, Cogan, Mack Nays (1): Hershey Motion Carried Main Motion: A vote on the main motion resulted as follows: Ayes (2): Blumenthal, Cogan Nays (3): Hershey, Peterson, Mack Motion Failed J. Old Business 1. Retirement Salary Adjustment Deputy Police Chief David Barnes requested a salary increase due to approaching retirement. The raise, if granted, would be effective July 1, 2003. Mr. Barnes stated that should the increase in the amount of $1,259 be approved, he would return the extra leave time that he received. After discussion, Alderperson Blumenthal made a motion to grant Deputy Police Chief David Barnes a pay increase of $1,259 effective July 1, 2003 and that if a policy is adopted that would have resulted in Deputy Police Chief David Barnes having a larger increase that said increase be made retroactive to July 1, 2003 and that the equivalent of $1,259 be deducted from Deputy Police Chief Barnes annual leave balance. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Motion carried 5-0. The Committee discussed the purpose of the $5,000 that was set aside, who among managerial employees would be eligible to receive a portion of this money and the procedure to request a salary increase. The Committee, then, asked the HR Director to draft language of the different options. Human Resources Committee August 25, 2003 Page 7 2. Possible Executive Session to Discuss Collective Bargaining Alderperson Cogan made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining. Seconded by Alderperson Mack. After Executive Session, Chairperson Peterson reported that no action was taken. K. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.