MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CITY OF HERRIN, ILLINOIS HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016 AT 5:00 P.M.

Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. City persons Alderman York, Alderman Shoemake, Alderman Sizemore, Alderman Ahlgren, Mayor Frattini, Alderman Kinley, Attorney John Brewster and City Clerk Shelly Huggins.

Public Works Contract - Purpose is to discuss the proposal that has been submitted by the union. Removal of animal control positions-already agreed to, this will stand. Article 6 Emergency situations for animal control will stand as written. Proposed language for garbage truck-sanitation unit states that when one or more of the garbage workers is absent that the duties will be assigned by seniority in Street & Alley only. All other verbiage in contract is the bargaining unit as a whole not by individual department. It was asked if we can word by priority being street and alley then to other departments. Consensus will be to leave proposed street and alley verbiage along with reverse seniority. In losing seniority rights, they have until the end of the 5th scheduled shift of work to notify supervisor after missing more than 3 consecutive days. Striking phrase “no later than the end of his fifth scheduled shift of work” under item 3.

Job Bidding - Now states seniority 1st, job performance 2nd and qualifications 3rd. This will remain the same.

Layoff & recall - verbiage to add all part time employees working in the City shall be laid off before a full time employee will be considered. Need further clarification of union.

Alderman Crompton arrived at 5:19 p.m.

Discontinuance of job classification - pay scale in new position will be assumed. This will remain as is.

Pay and Hours - Please note that the normal day is between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Just making note as we may start staggering employees. Proposal states a normal workday schedule for water department employee shall contain a paid lunch period. Why does it just mention water, what about other sections. Maybe change to “in the event you work through lunch it will be paid. Also don’t put department specific. Maybe make them accountable for what work they were doing during lunch by having them document.

Accumulated comp time - proposed language will work with clarification on budget director approval.

Wage rate - union asking for water bill credit of up to $100 per month per employee. Will not be considered.

Vacations - hours of 1,400 do not match full time employee. Need to find out hours. Should be 2,080 for full time. Request for proposalverbiage of 24 hour notice for vacation instead of one week (7 days). Grant or deny will stay five days. Consensus is to leave the original wording. Emergency issues they want to change period of one week to 24 hour notice. Will leave original verbiage.

Sick leave - They want to strike “The City reserves the right to require a doctor’s slip when it has reasonable suspicion that sick leave is being abused.” Language is to stay in.

Holidays - union wishes to add MLK Day. If we give to one union, you have to give to all. This verbiage will stand as originally written.

Personal Leave days - they are asking for 5 days instead of 3. This will not be considered. They wish to reduce notice to 24 hours instead of 48 hours. This will stay 48 hours.

Clothing allowance - they wish to go from $525 to $650. This is by consensus okay to increase. However, the proposal of getting a check once a year, is not negotiable. Procedure will stay the same. Carrie also stated that there are receipt issues close to the end of the fiscal year. She wishes to have verbiage stated that receipts must be turned in by the Wednesday before the last council meeting in April.

Article 27 - date change is fine. There is proposed increase from $100 to $200 per month per employee. This will not be considered.

Duration of agreement - date updates ok.

Appendix “A” - wages - They have proposed a 60 cent increase for tier one. For budget forecasting we put in 30 cent raises. City offer is 30 cents. Tier 2 proposal is to give bigger raises in the middle rather than at the end of the 6 year catch up period. Budget was made for already approved tier 2 scale. Any raise above already approved scale is not in the budget. Tier 2 was created to bring on part time employees in a responsible spending matter. Tier 2 changes will remain as originally written. Also under wages there is a onetime $100 signing bonus again in this contract. This will be used as negotiating tool. The proposed language to give tier 2 employees the negotiated hourly pay increase will not be considered.

Water operator will be changed to plural operators. Proposal is for additional 25 cents for water operator license holders also striking those responsible letting everyone who has license have additional. This verbiage will stay original.

Sewer plant operator’s proposal is for additional 25 cents for each license obtained. Consensus is for change.

Longevity for nine years or less of service is being proposed to say “all” rather than “current”. Language will go back to state that tier 2 does not get longevity.

Need to add tier 2 employees to seniority list.

Pension contributions change per LIUNA and they are specified.

Where it says superintendent in contract, this needs to state public works director.

Clerical contract needs to be worked

Next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.