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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