Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-02-2020 MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN PBA UNION WAGE NEGOTIATIONS MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 Present: Al Boettjer, Staff Representative, Coastal Florida PBA/PEA Union Representative, 810 Fentress Court, Daytona Beach, FL 32117 Paul Carlisle, City Manager, City of Sebastian Ken Killgore, Administrative Services Director/CFO, City of Sebastian Cynthia Watson, Human Services Director, City of Sebastian Ken McDonough, PBA Union Representative Marc Maison, PBA Union Representative Janet Graham, Technical Writer (Zoom) Mr. McDonough stated the purpose of this meeting is to negotiate raises for the PBA Union. Mr. McDonough stated he had some questions regarding the CARES Act. Mr. Carlisle stated the only thing that can be discussed today is wages. He offered to discuss the CARES Act and the affect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the City outside of these negotiations. Mr. Boettjer said the Union would like to see a 3% increase. He reviewed that he just finished negotiations with the County Sheriffs' Department and what figures were arrived at. Taking into account the COVID-19 virus and its effects on the City's budget, he feels 3% is what is needed to keep everybody happy. Mr. Carlisle stated he can appreciate that. He said that, unfortunately, the budget is balanced at zero wage increases. If the City Council adopts the higher millage rate, that would allow for an increase in wages. That is uncertain at this point. He reiterated that funds for pay raises can only be used from the General Fund. The City started out with a 37% deficit from state revenue. That has changed somewhat, but he is not overly optimistic that it will change significantly. Mr. Carlisle reminded everyone that he always tries to get the best he can for the employees. The Budget Advisory Committee considered the 3.1514 rate, which will allow for raises. If Council does not go with that and goes with the 2.9399 rate, that means zero raises at this point. He has heard from Council members that they want to give raises, but he cannot speak to them until they take an official vote. He described how citizens of this City are struggling during this time, and the City does not want to raise taxes approximately 12%, which would allow it to give raises. He and Mr. Killgore are struggling to find the ability to do something for the employees, even if it is a one-time payout. He explained that if City Council approves the 3.1514 millage rate, that could allow for raises. PAGE 2 Mr. Boettjer stated that his people are aware of the City's obstacles, and the City Council should know that the police department, as well as the other employees, is trying to be reasonable. They understand the situation, but they do not want to fall behind either. Mr. Carlisle said that if City Council decides to go back to rollback, then the City will be looking at furloughs and layoffs, and no one wants to see that. He will do everything he can to at least maintain the status quo. Right now, he does not know whether Council is going to go with the 2.9399 or the 3.1514 rate. Discussion was held among the mediators regarding the CARES Act funds. Mr. Carlisle again explained that none of that money can be used for raises in wages. Marc Maison talked about how the increase in the millage rate would affect him. He clarified the timeline for when City Council addresses the millage. Mr. Carlisle stated that, if City Council decides on the 2.9399 at the September 14th meeting (the first public meeting on the millage and the budget), they can raise it to the 3.1514 rate at the meeting on the 28th (the second and final meeting on the millage and the budget), but they cannot lower it. Mr. McDonough stated that everyone here is aware of the issues that have been present with regard to the Sebastian City Council that are unprecedented. He questioned why City Council would have a meeting on the budget and the millage the day before a recall vote. He suggested that the members of City Council on September 14th may not have the best interests of the City in mind at that time when the next day some of the Council members may be recalled. He queried why the date of the 14th was set. Mr. Killgore explained that the 14th meeting date was established back in July, as the City had to give the County the information on what the proposed millage was, and Council considered that. The forms that were necessary to be filed had to indicate a date. So that date was established long before it was known about what was going to occur on September 15th. Mr. Carlisle further explained why the 14th was chosen, and the City had no way of knowing when that date was chosen if or when the recall vote would take place. Mr. McDonough next addressed the fact that the Sheriffs' Department, which is in the same county, and suggested that they have had the same challenges as Sebastian has had. He understands that the Sheriffs' Department is getting a 7% raise while Sebastian police are struggling to get maybe nothing. He wondered why the County can do what Sebastian cannot do. The employees in his department have had to continue with their duties during the worst of the pandemic. He stressed that it is important to note that his department, being first responders, had to go to homes and businesses where they had no knowledge of whether the people in those homes and at those businesses were going to expose his fellow police to the virus. He stated that there have been multiple members of the police who have contracted the virus and whose family members have contracted the virus. He further stated that over the past years the department has gotten 3% raises, PAGE 3 and that seems to be the norm. They are not asking for 7%; they are asking for the 3% that has been given in the past few years. He does not have the figures on how much the City's revenue has dropped during the pandemic. Mr. Carlisle reiterated that Sebastian's revenue sharing from the State is down 37%. He does not know what the County's budget is or what the Sheriffs' Department budget is. He also mentioned potential lawsuits that may have to be addressed by the City. Mr. Boettjer interjected that the 7% raise by the County will be ratified on the 18th. Mr. Maison clarified that, if the 2.9399 rate is approved, that would not allow for raises. Mr. Carlisle stated that is correct. However, Mr. Carlisle stated, if the 2.9399 is approved, there is a plan in place to cut some additional spending and trade some funds that will affect services so as to be able to at least give a one-time payout. Mr. Boettjer stated that he assumes that, at the meetings that are held before a final decision is made, Mr. Carlisle will attempt to get something for the City's unions. Mr. Carlisle said he certainly will. He also explained that, if in three months or so the City finds that the state revenues recover, the parties can come back and address the issue again. Mr. Boettjer stated that his people are not going to agree to zero raises but will continue to negotiate. Mr. McDonough emphasized that he is not trying to be confrontational, but he needs to understand what all is involved so that he can explain it to the employees whom he represents. Mr. Maison reviewed that the employees understand how hard it has been for the City as well as the employees during this time. He also opined that most residents of the City would affirm what a good police department the City has, as well as the other employees of the City. He also stated that a real estate tax increase of approximately 12% is not that hard to accept, when in past years there have been no tax increases or the rate has even gone down. Mr. Boettjer stated that with the circumstances as they are, there is nothing to be resolved today. The meeting was closed at 2:21 p.m. L