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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJUNE 18, 2018 WORKSHOP COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA June 18, 2018 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for a workshop in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court,Jeffersonville, Indiana at 5:00 pm, on Monday,June 18, 2018.The roll call was conducted and those present were: Councilperson White, Councilperson Jahn, Council President Gill, Councilperson Owen, Councilperson Ellis, and Councilperson Samuel. Councilperson Maples, and Councilperson Hawkins were absent and Councilperson Zastawny arrived late to the proceedings at 6:06 PM. Council President Gill, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the Council Workshop to order at 5:00 pm. 1. Charitable Donations—Council President Gill said before proceeding we need to get a consensus on how the Council would like to proceed. Councilperson Ellis brought up an Ordinance that did not pass that suggested that each Councilperson have a certain amount of money set aside for projects in their districts. He would like to look at a similar set up for nonprofits, where each Council has a certain dollar amount allotted in the budget to donate to nonprofits. Council President Gill said what was originally proposed was to take money from the Gaming Revenues ($20,000) for those nonprofits. Councilperson Jahn said she believes what Councilperson Ellis is looking at is to divide that amount up and each have a certain amount for nonprofits. Historically things that have come out of special projects are tables for events, membership fees. She said the idea is that if we are going to have charitable donations as a Council we do so in a transparent way and a way that is accessible to all nonprofits and not those who just contact the Councilpersons or come to the Council meetings. It is a viable option to say that we are going to not support nonprofits as well. It is important to her to have guidelines set forth for moving forward. Council President Gill said during a finance committee meeting it was discussed that these donations would not be able to be used for operational expenses (capital only) and she really liked that idea. Councilperson Jahn expanded that these donations would have to go towards projects that happened within Jeffersonville, did not support operational needs or salaries, there would be an application process for those, and that there will be a committee to review the application. Councilperson Owen asked if we don't support nonprofits does that mean we wouldn't be putting money towards the events and we would only support those that have a line item in our budget. Councilperson Jahn said there was a recommendation that any entity that was under the City Umbrella would not be included in this ordinance and that would still need to be defined but would include entities such as City Pride and Jeff Main Street. Councilperson Owen said he thinks there are a lot of good people that do a lot of good things in the community and we as a City don't participate as much as what we are vested in what they do. As a City if we have the ability to support those projects we should. He does not like the idea of having a pocket of individual monies to donate per Councilperson. Councilperson Jahn said she is hearing that an option may be that the Council defines what they will not contribute to and still leave the rest open. Councilperson Owen said he does see value to the application or grant process. Councilperson Samuel said he likes the idea of being transparent. The problem with this is we almost become like a foundation because there are so many nonprofits in this city. He doesn't want to tell any of them no. With the limited dollars it doesn't seem like they can truly make an impact. In his opinion he does think there are times there may be an emergency need. To open it up, he is more leaning against not doing it and referring them to the community foundation. Councilperson Jahn said she does not want to take a stance that we are not going to fund nonprofits and then not practice that and make exceptions. By saying what we will not fund we are at least scoping it down. Councilperson Samuel said he sees things like the Jeffersonville Little League as almost a promotion for the City because when they go they have Jeffersonville all over them, and then maybe a line item in the budget for emergencies. Councilperson Ellis said he has a problem giving big monies away to nonprofits and especially how the Council chooses. He would not want to be on that committee on which cause is worthy. Councilperson Owen said if we say we are only going to focus on Capital campaigns how does it come into play when it's something like the Little League? Council President Gill said one recommendation would be for a promotion line item. Councilperson Ellis said it seems to him like individually they are afraid to say no or they are afraid to say yes. When you are elected to these seats you are elected because of your good judgement. Councilperson White said he would agree to having organizations come before the Council and putting it on the record. Councilperson Jahn said she wondered how many projects would not get completed due to lack of funding if the Council did not assist and if they are the first stop or if organization are going to the other options prior to seeking assistance from the City Council. Council Attorney Wilder said he will prepare three different ordinances for the Council to vote on. 2. Pay Grade Discussion—Councilperson Jahn said an email was sent out with the recommendations of the Paygrades Committee and the effort over several meetings. This doesn't discuss capped employees. It does adjust and reform our paygrades so we are more competitive for the market and we will not have as many capped employees. There will be 2 capped employees under this new paygrade system.This also addresses longevity. The committee was in full agreement that we continue longevity. Not that we free it or eliminate it but that we continue it, only changing that it be added into the base pay of the employee to be paid out with each paycheck as opposed to having the different options in how to be paid out. This will simplify our accounting processes. This also details the financial impact to the City if we choose to move forward. We are hoping to start this January of 2019 so we will need to clean up the ordinances that need to be updated prior to then. Council President Gill asked if they discussed with Police and Fire's longevity since they are the majority of the ones who receive longevity and how that will impact since they will still be able to receive the options on how to get that paid out. Councilperson Jahn said that was totally separate because it falls under a different contract. Anne Langley from the Police Department was present and discussed that a choice was being taken away and if it is added in her base pay it will probably cap her out immediately. As far as simplifying it, she does payroll and it doesn't simplify it at all. She still has 75 police officers that she has to divide it. Councilperson Ellis said one of the issues he has with putting the longevity on the weekly pay is we have some employees who are barely making ends meets and often they use longevity for the Holiday season and it would be a travesty to take that decision away from them. Council President Gill said she has heard from employees that they would like to see it stay the same they use that money for savings or to pay year end bills or holidays. Councilperson Jahn said she would like to discuss a few things first being that the committee meeting being discussed secretively which was not the intent. It also sounds like they have been given some conflicting information. She appreciates the information being brought this evening so that it can be brought to light. She does think that the capped employees need to be addressed and ideally before budget. Council President Gill said when the conversation is had about capped employees she would like to see them all addressed. Human Resources Director Kim Calabro said the reason a number of the employees are here is because they are capped. She began working on this issue in August of last year and she thought this would be addressed this evening. Becky Snelling (34 years) discussed how being capped out has affected her pay increases. She is the Admin for the Engineering Department, handles Public Arts and also does Vehicle Maintenance Claims. Throughout all of this her cost of living increases as well. She says when she is here she does her job. Linda Mills (22 years) is in the Building Commissioners office. This is the first year that she has been capped. It is frustrating. She still does her job and works just as hard and it would be nice to have an incentive just like everyone else. Cissy Ellis (28 years) Secretary for the Fire department—It is a terrible feeling for everyone else to be getting raises and you are capped out. It doesn't seem right to her. Treat us all the same. Jackie Langdon (25 years)—One of the hardest parts for her was hearing she was going to get that raise and having the paperwork done and expecting it and then come January finding out she was capped out and she wouldn't be getting anything. Elisha Gibson (20 years)—She just asks that they consider them and their households and costs of living as well. Richard Cross (18 years) —They need a raise also, he wants to retire from the City they are out in the heat and cold and they stay out until the job is done. Councilperson Owen said one thing he is hearing that needs to be revisited is the Longevity, however it seems they are all on board for addressing the capped employees. Human Resources Director Kim Calabro said we get to this point when we sit on this stuff for as long as we do. By the time we approve this, it will be time to do it again. We have a lot of good employees and we should want to keep them. Councilperson Samuel asked what a livable wage was. The committee decided $15.00. We would like for full time employees to make $30,000 a year. This brings about the recommendation to allow the manager to hire up to 35%of the pay grade. It was agreed that would help with turnover and hiring. Council President Gill said she went through the new AIM salary survey and our Street and Sanitation wages are way below comparable cities while some of the others that are being proposed to get an increase are making a comparable amount. Ms. Calabro asked if she was referencing Kokomo, Noblesville, and Caramel. Council President Gill responded that they were in there but not comparable in size. Clark is having a big turnover. Ms. Calabro said paying up to the 35%will make a huge difference. Clark Miles said he would like to see his guys start out at least at$18.00 in order to assist with the hiring process. Councilperson White said with the new proposal it would be allowed to hire in at$18.81 and Mr. Miles said that would be good. The City is getting bigger, it is so important to look at the capping out and adjusting salaries and that you are supporting them. He appreciates what they are trying to do. He would also like to see them consider a couple more employees for their department. Council Attorney Wilder advised the Council that the Administration will need to bring this before the Council with a formal recommendation. It was discussed whether Ms. Calabro was bringing these recommendation as an extension of the Administration. Council President Gill said she is all for expanding the paygrades for employees however she does have some issues with the increases for some of the department heads getting the automatic significant bump. Councilperson White made a motion to RECOMMENDATION to accept the information brought before the Council. Councilperson Zastawny made a second. Councilperson Samuel said he thinks there still needs to be some balance with the 35%and he would like to see that monitored after a certain paygrade. The motion PASSED on a vote, 7-0. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Owen made a motion to ADJOURN the Council Workshop at 6:54 pm. APPROVED ( -4• t/ Lisa Gil President ATTEST: -it:laz 1/14-1 Vicki Conlin, Clerk