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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/12/1981CITY COUNCIL MARCH 12, 1981 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Thursday, March 12, 1981 at 7:30 pm in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Martin Paulsen, William Burgess, John Towne Member Absent Michael Flaherty Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Charles Balserus, Kevin Hayes, Stephen Burke, Lansing Reinholz, Douglas Bouvier, Robert Hawke, Jr. Mr. Reinholz, representing the police, said they understood the offer on life insurance but would like explanations of the other changes. Mr. Farrar said that, regarding overtime, the Council was still working on the department manpower budget and might not know what was going to happen with that until May. This may affect the number of detectives there will be. If there is only 1, his/her payment in lieu of overtime will be $50, if there are 2, it will be $35, and if there are 3, it will be $25. This is because if there are more people, it is assumed that there will be less overtime to do. On insurance, Mr. Farrar said the benefit would basically be doubled for any employee up to age 65 and at that age the benefit would be the same as previously. In addition there is an accidental death benefit which will extend until retirement and covers accidental death for any cause. The proposal on the dental plan will increase the benefit level. Mr. Farrar noted that the union had the city's salary proposals. The union left the room to discuss the proposal. When they returned, Mr. Reinholz stated that he was surprised at the overtime offer. When one detective left the force last year, the remaining detective's stipend did not increase, even though a request was made that it rise. After some discussion, Mr. Farrar stated that this only applied to the bargaining unit. The figure of 3 did not include the detective sergeant. The addition of 1, 2 or 3 detectives is over and above the detective sergeant. Mr. Burke noted that 20 days into the contract last year, one detective left, and he did not feel $30 per week was a fair stipend for the amount of call-back time gotten. Mr. Reinholz said they would hold their position on this item and come back to it. After receiving clarification on the retirement benefits, Mr. Reinholz indicated that there seemed to be no problem with that item. Regarding the dental plan, Mr. Hayes said it was hard to understand, but it did not look like an improvement. Under class 1, it will pay 100% of usual and customary services. Mr. Farrar explained that that meant that the bill would be paid in full if the charge for the service was in the range of what other dentists in the area were charging. In other words, if a bill were submitted for $120 for cleaning teeth, unless there were a good explanation for the cost, what would be paid would be what dentists in the area were generally charging for cleaning teeth. Mr. Hayes felt the employee would lose on class 2, 3 and 4 service under the plan. There is a deductible amount and after that a percentage is paid. Under the present plan the fee is paid 100%. Mr. Farrar said the Council understood this to be a benefit improvement, but he felt the question raised was legitimate and said the Council would respond with some specific figures. Mr. Burgess stated that the Council intended to improve benefits. Mr. Reinholz suggested looking into the added costs of no deductible. Mr. Reinholz went over new union positions on the proposal. He did not believe the union's counter offer was far from the city's position on salaries. Last time it was agreed to stick with the current salary plan given the work that was needed on merit. Mr. Farrar said the union and administration would work with the Council on correcting deficiencies. Mr. Reinholz asked that it be done soon. The union proposed a salary schedule reflecting that at level 3 grade 8, the base would be $14,335 with steps of $206.92. Mr. Farrar said those figures could be run through. The union has dropped its request for additional holidays from 2 to 1, which is Lincoln's Birthday. They stay with the original proposal on Article 13, b. and c. for a $50 increase. They drop the request for changing the structure of vacations. Mr. Reinholz said a prime concern was Article 17, section 5, regarding disability retirement. Mr. Farrar said he would try to get information to the union on the benefits proveded by social security on that. Mr. Reinholz noted that this was a very high risk job and the membership was concerned about an inability to fill a position on the force. In lieu of a disability retirement provision, the union would entertain language which indicated that anyone in that position would be offered work in another department. On personal time, 12 hours were requested, because that is what the fire department receives. Mr. Farrar responded that those employees work longer hours than other city employees and that the personal time is the same percentage that everyone else receives. Mr. Reinholz said they still wanted 12 hours. On sick time, Mr. Reinholz said the concern was to give protection of pay during the early years of employment. They want to change from 1 1/2 days accumulated to 18 days per year to 2 days accumulated to 24 per year for the first 3 years of employment and then go down to the 1 1/2 day figure. Mr. Farrar said that would result in more sick time being given. The union drops its request on prescription drugs and eyeglasses. They hold on dental. They drop the request for disability insurance reluctantly. They also drop the request for retirement increase (Article 21, section 6) and they drop the request for course reimbursement (Article 22 section 6). It was decided to meet again on Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 pm. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.