Minutes from the 1/12/09 Wage & Personnel Meeting

Minutes of the Wage & Personnel Committee meeting held on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson Heier.
2. Roll call: Lloyd Heier, Al Schreiber, Marlene Zahn and John Wittkopf.
Excused: Sue Exworthy. Mayor Nerenhausen and Linda Belongia, Administrator and as recording secretary also present.
3. Moved by Schreiber seconded by Zahn to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes
4. Moved by Zahn seconded by Wittkopf to approve and place on file as typed the minutes from the 12/16/2008 meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes
5. Correspondence/public input: Heier asked if all members received a letter from Robert Mommaerts. Four members present all acknowledged receiving the letter; Mommaerts letter referenced memo he received from Belongia informing him of the council’s decision from 1/7/09 meeting that his position would terminate with understanding city will be advertising for a full time Director of Public Works with residency required; Mommaerts letter states why didn’t the council make the residency a requirement and give him until 9/30/09 to move into the city, and why did they think it wasn’t a full time position? Memo goes onto say Belongia stated she didn’t think Mommaerts wanted to move into the city and that he only wanted to work 30 hrs per week because of his involvement with the Golf Club; Mommaerts memo stated that was not the case, goes on to reference meeting with Atty. Kalny at which time he stated he had no problem moving into the city, but it may be hard to sell his house in today’s market; would prefer getting reimbursed by the hour instead of fixed salary…would allow him to come and go as necessary, this has worked out well; was Wage & Personnel and Council that passed resolution that Mommaerts could not exceed 30 hrs a week; Memo states in the 37 weeks he’s been in the position he’s averaged just under 32 hrs per week; full time is not a problem…council will just need to change the previous resolution; Memo states the job description is already set forth in the code and it is Mommaerts opinion the position is already full time as he is receiving the benefits given to full time employees; Memo asked that Mommaerts be confirmed as the Director of Public Works and allow him until 9/30/09 to become a resident of the City, as he is in limbo now, because if he does sell his house, he doesn’t know if he will have a job in September;

6. Discussion/possible recommendation/action on: job description for a full time Director of Public Works; Advertising; and Salary Range; Wittkopf stated this has already been brought up by council, everything is all set….gave him till 1/11/09 and then he’d be done; then council changes their minds…agrees with Mommaerts, he is in limbo; Zahn…will he move into city; Schreiber agrees, residency is the issue; Heier stated if this committee feels residency is issue and Mommaerts is saying he’d move into the city by 9/30/09 if given the full time position, then its not fair to advertise, etc; discussion; Mayor stated we need to get something in writing from Mommaerts that he will be a city resident by 9/30/09 if granted this position.

Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Schreiber to recommend to Council that the probationary period should end on 2/10/09 for Robert J. Mommaerts and that he be hired as the full time Director of Public Works at an hourly rate of $41.20 for 30 hrs per week with residency required by 9/30/2009 with a signed statement from Mr. Mommaerts that he will be a City of Oconto resident by 9/30/09.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes

Moved by Schreiber seconded by Wittkopf to amend the job description for the Director of Public Works.
Mayor will work with Belongia on the amendments.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes

7. Discussion on recommendation from Finance Committee on request from Kale Proksch, Park, Recreation & Forestry Director asking for consideration on hiring a parks superintendent; Wittkopf stated this request has not been brought before the Park & Recreation committee of which he is a member; discussion on the seasonal employees still working for the parks dept; appears we have two employees in a vehicle, as one doesn’t have a drivers license; what are they doing, budgets are tight, have not had employees working for the parks during this time of year; Belongia stated in the past we’ve had a very limited parks seasonal employee working to help with maintaining the ice/hockey rink at Sharp Park;
Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Schreiber to refer this request to the Park & Recreation Committee.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 4 ayes

Schreiber questioned when we hire part time employees maybe we need a little more supervision….BPW and Parks need to get better handle on what part time jobs these employees are doing…need to follow up;

8. No next meeting date set at this time. Belongia reminded members that the Teamster and Fire union contracts expire 10/30/09 and the Police 12/31/09.

9. Moved by Zahn seconded by Schreiber to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator