Minutes of The Special Price City Council Meeting

City Hall: Price, Utah

November 16, 2005, 5:00 p.m.

 

Present:

Mayor Joe L. Piccolo                              Joanne Lessar, City Recorder

Councilmembers:                                   Pat Larsen, Finance Director

     Betty P. Wheeler                              Nick Sampinos, City Attorney

     Richard Tatton                                  Gary Sonntag, Public Works Director/City Engineer

     Jeanne McEvoy                                Nick Tatton, Community Director

                                                            John Daniels, Human Resource Director

Bret Cammans, Customer Services Director

Aleck Shilaos, Chief of Police

 

Excused: Councilmember Stephen L. Denison

   Councilmember Mae Aguayo

 

Others Present:

     Councilmember Elect Kathy Hanna-Smith                   Councilmember Elect Jeff Nielson

    

 1.        WORKSHOP

 

The Council met to receive an overview of Human Resources and to discuss the realignment of departments and assignments. 

 

A Christmas gift card in lieu of the gift certificates that have been previously issued to employees at Christmas time was discussed.  The gift card would be much easier to process for both the Accounting Department and the local vendor.  MOTION.  Councilmember Tatton moved that the gift cards be used and that they be in increments of $25 for boardmembers, $30 for part time employees and $50 for full time employees.  Motion seconded by Councilmember McEvoy and carried.

 

John Daniels presented and discussed graphs and profiles for the following topics.  They represent issues that he has dealt with since he became Human Resource Director, items that have been improved and what he forsees in the future.

 

Exit Interviews

* Lack of future promotions

* Lack of skilled supervisors

* Great benefits

* +/- Compensation

 

Escalating Employment Costs

 

Improvements

* Added EAP benefit

* Improved Fire Department compensation

* Promotion system

* Supervisory training

 

Future Challenges

* Improvement in the job market

* Attracting and retaining employees

 

Potential Policy Changes

* Clarify the Benefit Extension Policy to indicate provisions of a Medicare

  Supplement vs. continued insurance

* Performance management ratings in PPP Manual do not match our

  Performance Management Form

* Sexual Harassment Policy needs to expand to all forms of harassment

* Eliminate references to Apermanent@ employees

* Eliminate educational assistance from the policy (affordable)

* Add emergency pay policy of 1.5 times regular pay

 

Other Possible Efforts/Initiatives

* Add a benefits council


November 16, 2005

 

* Increase personal choice holidays but retain total holiday number (for example,

  trade Veterans Day for an additional Personal Choice Day)

* Flexible work schedules (various possibilities)

* Total compensation training

* Continue supervisory and leadership development

* Continue employee participation

* Increase communication

 

John Daniels discussed the turnover rate for this year, which is double the Year 2004.  He presented a chart on wages vs. the poverty level in Carbon County and where city employees fall on the chart.  He also presented an employee age profile chart and charts on years of service and projected retirements.

 

Councilmember Tatton discussed realignment of the Parks and Cemetery Departments.  Several years ago, the Parks and Cemetery were one department.  It was changed and over the past several years, a supervisor was assigned to both departments.  He felt it would be advantageous to combine the Parks, Cemetery and Grounds into one department.  He also suggested looking at placing Building Services and the cement crew under the Streets Department.

 

Councilmember Tatton also suggested combining the departments that fit together in nature, such as recreation, the pool, ball fields, and the Peace Garden, and assigning one department to handle all of them.  He questioned the Library and if it would fit in with recreation.  Gary Sonntag supported the suggestion and felt that there would be a better job focus on departments, it would economize, there would be more specialization and better service.  One supervisor would assign all job duties,  such as one person repairing sprinklers, another mowing lawns, etc.  Councilmember Tatton felt that such a move would also reduce the need for temporary/seasonal employees each year from 5 to 3.

 

Mayor Piccolo recommended that this concept be researched further.  Councilmember Tatton agreed and recommended if it is approved, that the process be ready to proceed by July 1st, which is the new budget year.  Mayor Piccolo recommended forming a committee to review it. Councilmember McEvoy recommended moving the Parks and Cemetery work force as well as their equipment to the BLM property.

 

Gary Sonntag spoke of a recent visit he made to another city where they handled everything in one central location, such as grave opening permits, park rentals, etc., or other such things that the Cemetery or Parks Department handles.  The BLM property could also be used to park city vehicles.  This would, however, increase travel in the neighborhood.  He suggested exiting at the back of the property through the ball fields at 11th East.

 

MOTION.  Councilmember McEvoy moved that the Personnel Committee along with staff be authorized to move forward to consolidate, realign and reorganize.  Motion seconded by Councilmember Tatton and carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

 

APPROVED:

 

 

 

                                                   

ATTEST:                                                           Joe L. Piccolo, Mayor

 

 

 

                                                 

City Recorder