W&P Minutes 12/9/2010

Minutes of the Wage & Personnel committee meeting held on Thursday, December 9th, 2010 pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chairperson Schreiber.
2. Roll call: Al Schreiber, Jack Maas, Marlene Zahn, Jim Stiloski and John Wittkopf. Linda Belongia Administrator also present as recording secretary.
3. Moved by Zahn seconded by Stiloski to approve of the agenda and addendum as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote.
4. No correspondence or public input.
5. Moved by Maas seconded by Stiloski to accept and place on file the minutes as typed by Marlene Zahn for the 11/16/2010 meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
6. Moved by Stiloski seconded by Wittkopf to accept and recommend to Council that Jaime Schlueter be hired effective 1/4/2011 for the Public Works department.
Discussion. Maas stated W&P should have been given the list of applicants and how there were ranked…was this applicant next on the list? Stiloski stated he was told yes by two people; Wittkopf no. Maas stated ranking should be followed; Stiloski stated at a future W&P meeting should set some procedures for hiring process; Schreiber stated if a list was made of the applicants, they W&P should see the list; Maas agreed that would be the fair way; Stiloski stated he has an issue notifying the applicant before it’s come to committee for action;
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
7. Discussion on request from Robert J. Mommaerts for vacation time. Belongia stated committee could look at creating a “furlough” policy; Mommaerts is looking for additional unpaid time off; Belongia stated with a policy in place as Administrator could approve of furlough day’s off; would be monitored so no overtime would be worked during the week a furlough day is taken off; Wittkopf stated his understanding is, Mommaerts wants an extra week off without pay which amounts to the 2% increase council has approved for 2011;
Moved by Stiloski seconded by Zahn to table Mr. Mommaert’s request and direct the Administrator to bring back a draft policy for furlough days.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
8. Discussion on ordinance which defines job description for the city attorney position; Stiloski questioned if we are looking at subcontracting with a law firm for this? Schreiber stated Atty. Calvert has agreed to continue as the city attorney until 3/30/2011 to give us time to see if we make any changes to the ordinance, etc; verbal consensus of the committee, this position will have no set hours, leaving the salary for the position as it’s been budgeted for 2011; no change in the City of Oconto current ordinance defining the position of city attorney; labor issues the city will continue to utilize our current labor attorney; Stiloski stated we need to advertise and conduct interviews, others out there interested in this position; Maas stated, or we can continue as we are; Zahn stated we should offer it to Atty. Calvert and then we won’t have to advertise…; Belongia questioned how would W&P want to conduct the interviews? Stiloski stated we would do background checks…need to advertise, keep public perception in mind; Maas stated we should keep the current ordinance defining the position;
Moved by Maas seconded by Zahn to recommend that we leave the ordinance Sec. 2-3-6 for the position of the city attorney as is.
Discussion. Wittkopf stated the draft amending the city attorney position was done by Atty. Calvert…it includes that this position would also handle labor issues….why take that out….if the city attorney is willing to do this for the same money should leave that in; Maas stated someone with labor law expertise has to take care of all labor issue; Wittkopf stated that will costs us more; Stiloski stated the current ordinance is what Atty. Mraz worked under;
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes 1 no Wittkopf

Addendum

1. Chairperson Schreiber stated the committee may vote to convene into Closed Session pursuant to notice duly given and as allowed by Wis. Stats. 19.85(1) (c) for discussion on the position of Building Inspector.
Moved by Zahn seconded by Wittkopf to convene into Closed Session at 5:10 p.m.
Motion carried upon verbal roll call vote. 5 ayes

Closed Session

2. Moved by Zahn seconded by Wittkopf to reconvene into Open Session at 5:27 p.m.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

9. Next meeting will be scheduled within one month. Stiloski asked that 2012 budgets be on the next agenda; Schreiber asked that we see what the W&P members want for future agenda items; Schreiber stated the salary ordinance for non union employees will be reviewed in July.

10. Moved by Maas seconded by Zahn to Adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 5:29 p.m.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator