HomeMy WebLinkAboutAprilCity of Sebastian Employee Newsletter April, 1998
JACKIE DEAN WITS THE POT -OF -GOLD
FROM THE DESK OF PHIL BOWERS
At the meeting of the Safety Committee on Thursday,
March 19, 1998, the group voted to strengthen the
City's policy regarding the use of seat belts. There
have been reports and observations of employees not
using belts or making light of suggestions to do so.
The Safety Committee has voted to designate seat
belt use violations, or lack of cooperation in seat belt
utilization, a level one offense in our progressive
discipline policy. The progressive discipline steps of a
level one offence are:
1 st Offense Oral Warning (Documented in
Writing)
2nd Offense Written Reprimand
3rd Offense Three-day Suspension Without
Pay
4th Offense Termination
The Safety Committee wants to make their position
clear on this matter. The intent of this decision is not
to punish but to encourage employees to take the
necessary steps to protect themselves and to mitigate
the severity of injuries should an accident occur.
Should and employee who is not warning their seat
belt while driving a City vehicle be injured in an
accident, worker's compensation would not support an
on the job injury claim. It would be the responsibility
of the employee.
Employees are expected to look out for other
employees and the City's interest. Employees who do
not cooperate in seat belt safety are to be referred to
their supervisor or department head.
AN UPDATE FROM HUMAN
RESOURCES
The salary and benefits survey is progressing slowly.
Collecting comparable data for a number of
classifications has proven to be more difficult than
anticipated. A number of classifications will require
some job description work in order to more accurately
compare with comparable employers. There should be
some preliminary recommendations published shortly
or by contract negotiation time.
However, part of this original survey project may be
delayed beyond previously set deadlines.
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE
The City of Sebastian will be holding a Family
Medical Leave (FMLA) information session on April
15, 1998 at various hours in the City's Council
Chambers. Al employees will be required to attend.
A policy and procedures will be implemented and
distributed with new forms for recording leave time.
The City will be following up on other issues that
have updates laws that have been implemented or
changed.
A list of times will be sent to all department heads to
schedule their employees for the session.
COMPUTER CLASSES
The Finance Department is arranging computer
classes at Computer City for employees on Microsoft
Word and Excel, etc. Cathy Bricker in Finance, 388-
8209, will take your name and time schedule for the
class of your selection. Check with your supervisor on
when you can attend prior to calling Cathy.
Happy Birthday
03/30 Dawn Corapi-C/D Clerical Assist. II
04/01 Gloria Brown-P/D Communications Tech.
04/02 Linda Kinchen-P/W Admin. Assist.
04/09 Patrick Brennan-P/W Public Works Dir.
04/10 Debra Curry-P/D Admin. Secretary
04/12 Richard Schofield-C/D Building Inspector I
04/14 Roland Walsh-G/C Cart Attendant
04/15 Joseph Dillon-P/D Police Investigator
04/18 Neil Druger-P/D Volunteer
04/19 Ann Rousseau-C/C Information Specialist
04/20 Eleanor Horvath-P/W Clerical Asst. II
04/23 Kathleen Brauer-P/D Communication Tech.
04/25 Margaret Fix -PID School Crossing Guard
04/26 Paul Phillips-P/D Police Officer
04/28 Alice Locke-G/C Cashier
04/29 Michelle Morris-P/D Police Officer
INSIDE CITY LIMITS
Lon mp
Emnlovees with 10 or more vears of service:
04/10/89 Paul St. Pierre-P/W Maint. Worker II
04/13/89 William Grimmich-P/D Police Officer
Employees with 5-9 years of service:
04/10/89 Paul St. Pierre-P/W Maint. Worker II
04/13/89 William Grimmich-PID Police Officer
04/13/89 Barbara Quinn-P/D Clerical Asst. II
04/21/89 Tim Zelinski-P/D Communications Tech.
04/19/90 Terry Hill-P/W Asst. P/W Director
04/15/93 Bob Thompson-P/W Maint. Worker I
Body. Mind & Soul
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage.»■
—Lao-Tzu
"Don't be just another member of society, be a living
example of your dreams and goals."
—Unknown
GOOD BYE!
Dorothy Bosworth has left the employment of
Community Development. Her last day was March 20,
1998. We will all miss her!
WELCOME ABOARD!
Harry Green started on March 11, 1998 at the Golf
Course as a Cart Attendant.
Arthur Locke started on March 10, 1998 at the Golf
Course as a Cart Attendant.
James McCandrew started on March 10, 1998 at the
Golf Course as a Cart Attendant.
MISCELLANEOUS EMPLOYEE NEWS!
Congratulations to Jackie Dean.
She won the Pot -Of -Gold by
having the least amount of clues
(6) to get the answers to the
scavenger hunt correct. She
won a gold planting pot
with gold wrapped chocolate coins
and $20.00 worth of quarters wrapped in gold. Hope
she enjoys.
Oops! I forgot to put Dawn Corapi's birthday in
last months newsletter. So sorry.
Congratulations to Greg Witt (Police
Sergeant) and his wife on the birth of their
baby girl.
Sergeant Debbie Maynard is a
. grandmother for the 3rd time. It's a boy!
Condolences to Bob Korda (Public Works Maint.
Worker II) on the death of his father.
Condolences to Chris McCarthy (Public Works
Park Supervisor) on the death of his grandfather.
The Police Station is almost back to normal.
Everyone is in their place, no more plastic walls,
noise, strangers in and out of the building. We hope
it is fixed once and for all and Jay Bennett should be
back in dispatch soon.
SPECIAL DATES!
t 04/05/98 Palm Sunday
* 04/05/98 Daylight SavingsTime Begins
$ 04/10/98 Pay Day
t 04/10/98 Good Friday
* 04/10/98 Passover begins at sundown
* 04/11/98 Passover
9 04/12/98 Easter Sunday
+ 04/15/98 Family Medical Leave Act Class
$ 04/17/98 Pay Day
404/22/98 Professional Secretaries Day
Zhank Y®ul
From Sally Grunzweig: To all my friends with the
City of Sebastian, I would like to thank each and
everyone of you for your support during the most
difficult year that I have had to endure. I guess if it
were not for all of your support and many invites to
dinner, and the personal things that you all have
helped me with, I would have been back in
Massachusetts by now. My children, Peter Jr.,
Kevin, and Jennifer also genuinely thank you for
your support. They are always telling me that I have
wonderful friends in Sebastian. Being that they are
so far away from me helps them with the loss of their
dad, to know that their mother has so much support
in Sebastian. Many sincere thanks and appreciation
to all of you! Sally "G"
MR -
EM CAULLMNA EU VA LENT
IN WORK ZOM
By Margie Poole
Rear -end collisions are the most frequent
work -zone accident hazard in the nation,
according to a study by an independent Liberty
Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health.
The center's analysis of 3,686 vehicular crashes at
roadway construction sites shows that rear -end
collisions accounted for 41 % of all accidents while
side -impact crashes accounted for 16%. Liberty
Mutual says the study points out a need for road -
construction managers, engineers, government
officials, and loss -management professionals who
work with them to step up safety precautions
whenever traffic is slowed through a work zone.
The study suggests the development of portable
speed bumps and devices that measure and display
driver's speed as their vehicles approach a work
zone.
Florida League of Cities, Safety
OUE-SI7O.N OF E MON
By Kathy Brauer
Do you believe in the Easter Bunny?
Mr. Frame, City Manager - Yes
Desmond Chambers, P/W Maint. Worker - Yes
Gloria Brown, P/D Dispatcher - No
Janet Isman, Finance - No, it would be really rough
for a Jewish person.
D= PiEtid.'.C.Rt1.ic
FROUROADJUGE
r
You could not have read a newspaper or
watched the evening news during the past
year without hearing about "road rage," the catchall
term for aggressive driving behavior that results in
accident injury. The wild stories are hard to ignore:
X A fender bender enrages a Detroit driver, who
forces the other driver to jump into a river,
where she drowns.
X A Sacramento, California driver, angry at a
tailgater, fires his handgun into the other car,
fatally injuring the driver.
X A Connecticut driver uses a crossbow to
express his anger with another driver.
Stephanie Faul, communications director of the
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (Washington,
D.C.), says these are just a few of the incidents that
have taken place during the past few years.
A 1997 survey by the Foundation reported 10,037
police reports and newspaper stories about traffic
incidents that resulted in violence between January
1990 and September 1996. Those accidents were
responsible for 121828 people being injured or killed.
These numbers include only reported incidents.
Many never make it to the newspaper or police
department.
Faul attributes the increase in road rage to
decreased traffic -safety enforcement. She cites a
recent study that found moving -violation tickets
have decreased over the past few years.
Aggressive driving is also increasing, people often
mimic the aggressive driving of other drivers,
especially if the behavior goes unchecked.
A lack of education about the dangers associated
with aggressive driving is a part of the problem.
Consequently, education and awareness are part of
the solution.
—Safety Now
1948 ,SA FET Y COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THE
FOLL09ING THUR.SnA EV AT 10:00A.M.
April 16th, May 7th, June 11 th, July 16th, August 13th,
September 17th, October 8th, November 12th, and
December I Oth, in the City Managers Conference Rm.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
BANANA SPLIT BROWNIE
PIZZA
By Cathy Bricker
1 Package (approx 21 ounces) brownie mix
2 Packages (8oz each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 Can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
Banana Slices
Strawberry Slices
'/2 Cup chopped nuts
1 ounce semi -sweet chocolate
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 375o . Prepare brownie mix in
Batter Bowl according to package directions. Place
Parchment Paper on 15 -inch baking stone. Pour
brownie mixture on paper and spread into a 14 -inch
circle. (Do not bake without Parchment Paper or
batter will run off stone while baking.) Bake 15-20
minutes or until set. Cool to room temperature.
Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Spread
over brownie "crust". Top with fruit and nuts. Melt
chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth.
Drizzle over pizza. Chill. Cut into wedges with
Pizza Cutter. Yield: 12-16 servings.
NOTE: Cathy will be bringing samples on
Wednesday, April 1, 1998 to City Hall, Police
Station, and Public Works. Make sure you stop by
and get a sample.
EMPLOYEES ON THE MOVE
By Kathy Brauer
Officer Paul Graves is the new
COP (Community Oriented
Policing) officer and is enjoying
his new assignment immensely.
He is planning as much as he can
fit into his busy schedule with
activities such as bike rodeos,
teaching children bike safety,
neighborhood watch programs, conducting security
surveys for residents and commercial properties.
Come summertime, Paul will be seen riding a bicycle
through town so he can get better contact with the
public.
His neighborhood watch program is geared toward
crime prevention where he will have block captains to
keep Paul informed of the neighborhood situations.
When Paul conducts a security survey, he takes
notice and informs the house or business owner of
ways they can better secure and protect their building.
Paul is married and has 3 children and 4
grandchildren. He has been in law enforcement for 3
'/z years, has served 16 active years in the Air force and
is currently with the National guard.
We wish him well in this new venture. Good Luck,
Paul!
1998 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
New Year's Day January 1 - Thursday
President's Day
February 16 -Monday
Memorial Day
May 25 - Monday
Independence Day
July 3 - Friday
Labor Day
September 7 - Monday
Veteran's Day
November 11 - Wed.
Thanksgiving
November 26 -Thursday
Day After
November 27 - Friday
Day Before Christmas
December 24 - Thur.
Christmas Day
December 25 - Friday
Employee Newsletter Staff and Assignments
Phillip Bowers - Human Resources
Kathy Brauer - Police Department Dispatch
Cathy Bricker - Finance
Doris Lee - Human Resources
Margie Poole - Finance
Jean Tarbell - City Managers' Office
NOTE: All employees are responsible to notify
management on:
1. Outside employment.
2. Changes of address & phone numbers.
3. Change in beneficiary(s)
4. Change in emergency contacts.
5. Any change in having a valid Florida Drivers License.
The City does random drug testing for Commercial Driving
License holders per the guidelines of the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
CITY OF SEBASTIAN POLICY
A DRUG FREE WORK PLACE