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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-2021 PBA MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN PBA UNION WAGE ARTICLE NEGOTIATION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 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 Detective Ken McDonough, Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association Representative Barbara Brooke Reese, MIS Manager Janet Graham, Technical Writer/Recorder (Zoom) Mr. Boettjer brought the meeting to order at 10:13 a.m. stating that this is the second negotiating session of 2021 discussing wages between the City of Sebastian and the PBA Law Enforcement Unit of the City of Sebastian. This meeting is being held in Council Chambers of the City of Sebastian. Mr. Boettjer asked Detective McDonough to speak. Detective McDonough stated that everything that was discussed at the first meeting was reiterated by him to the members. Since then, he has looked into what other departments are getting. He stated he is now doing background checks on candidates and has found that both the quality and quantity of applicants is down. His members feel that they deserve more than the 3% after seeing what other departments across this county and surrounding counties are getting. Mr. Carlisle explained what went into balancing this year's budget. He also stated that the comparison study relating to wages in Sebastian is going to be done in December. That study will cover every employee from the City Manager to the crossing guards. That will tell the City administration where the shortfalls are. Regarding the shortage of applicants, he stated that the shortage is everywhere, just not here in Sebastian. One of the things that has been talked about doing this year is to do the 3% pay raise and then do a 1.5% payout in December as a bonus. Detective McDonough asked if that is contingent on anything. Mr. Carlisle said it is only contingent on City Council's approval. He also stated that the union can counter that offer. Detective McDonough stated it was the general feeling that 5% would be acceptable. Mr. Carlisle stated that 4% is as high as he can go along with taking the 1.5% payout away. Mr. Boettjer added that police officers are being lost everywhere because of the conditions they have to deal with and the liability they may be subject to. Detective McDonough stated he does not feel that Sebastian should have the lowest starting salaries in the county. Mr. Carlisle said that this is not the time to be negotiating the contract; this meeting is only to discuss pay raises. PAGE 2 Detective McDonough stated he will get with the membership, and Mr. Boettjer said they will bring the decision back quickly to the City. Mr. Boettjer asked if it would be acceptable to the City if he emails the written proposal to the City Manager. Mr. Carlisle said that would be acceptable. Mr. Boettjer asked when the City Council will make the decision. Mr. Carlisle stated it would be at the first meeting in October which is the 13th, but he needs to have everything in the Tuesday prior so that it can be put on the agenda. At this point, this negotiation session was concluded at 10:35 a.m. fr