HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-2021 PEA MinutesPEA 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 Resources Director, City of Sebastian
Naiomi Charles, PEA Representative
John Noyes, PEA Representative
Joseph Perez, AV Technical Analyst
Janet Graham, Technical Writer/Recorder (Zoom)
Mr. Boettjer brought the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. stating that this is the second
negotiating session of 2021 between the City of Sebastian and Coastal Florida Public
Employee Association. This meeting is being held in Council Chambers of the City of
Sebastian.
Mr. Boettjer stated that after the general membership meeting was held, the
membership wanted us to come back and talk to the City about a 5% increase. He is
aware that the City Manager has come up with some other suggestions from the
negotiations that were held this morning. He asked Mr. Carlisle to present those
suggestions to these union representatives.
Mr. Carlisle reviewed that the City administration was able to save some funds off its
insurance by rebidding that out as well as some other administrative items that Mr.
Killgore was able to implement in order to balance the budget. The City's offer is a 3%
pay raise and a 1.5% cash payout in December. The reason it is in December is that
the City does not get its funds starting to come in until around then. People do not start
paying their taxes until November, and the City does not get distributions from the state
until later on. The 1.5% payout with a 3% pay raise is included in some increases for
the lower -tier employees, crossing guards, etc. Thus, a 4% pay raise is where we are
at presently. The compensation study has been approved, so that will be going forward.
Mr. Boettjer stated that the utility workers, etc. are really concerned about that and
where we are with the survey. He has explained to them that the City will not have the
end result of that until sometime in December. The City's plan is to look at all of those
recommendations from the survey in order to make adjustments as necessary. Mr.
Carlisle stated the classification comparison study is going to evaluate every employee
and what he/she does. During the survey there will be meetings with employees as well
so that there can be a true across-the-board comparison of positions. The job title in
Sebastian may not be the same as the title in Brevard County or elsewhere. That will all
be taken into account, as well as the pay and benefits. Recommendations for an
implementation plan will be provided to City Council on how the changes that will take
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place are going to be implemented, also along with union negotiations. The group
doing the study has done this in numerous places. They will get new data, as the data
could have changed since they did their last study. It will be a very comprehensive
study. They also will do the City's evaluation programs and how to evaluate the City's
employees. Mr. Boettjer stated he and the union members appreciate the City doing
the study. Mr. Carlisle reviewed that in March a comparison study was started to try to
get the $12.00-an-hour employees bumped up, and that is included in this budget
pending the union's negotiations. If the union does not agree to those negotiations,
then it remains where it is.
Mr. Boettjer stated that a lot of people do not understand where we are exactly with
what is being done here today. Today is strictly a wage issue in the contract. We are
not negotiating the differentials in salaries, etc. at this point. Mr. Carlisle stated that the
City administration did look into those things, and some recommendations were made in
the budget to address some of the lower -salaried employees, and that is in this
proposed pay increase, which includes the 1.5% cash one-time payout. Mr. Boettjer
stated his understanding is that the additional funding aside from the 3% has come from
the City's anticipation of income revenue for the City. Mr. Carlisle said the additional
revenue came from two sources: (1) There was a higher -than -predicted revenue
sharing from the state. (2) The biggest came from reduction in bidding out the City's
workers' compensation and casualty insurance. Those are where the majority of these
funds come from. He further explained that the reason he can do a 1.5% in the cash
payout is because there are no benefits on that amount. If the benefits are included, he
can do a 4% across-the-board pay raise, and he is open to either plan.
Mr. Noyes asked regarding bumping the lower -salaried employees up, is that the
employees who earn $12.00 or $13.00 an hour. Mr. Carlisle said it applies to
employees up to $16.00 an hour. He stated the $12.00 employees were taken to
$13.48; the $13.00-an-hour employees went up to $14.40; the people who were at
$15.00 to $16.00 an hour were brought up to over $16.00; employees such as crossing
guards and golf course attendants who were making $8.75 were brought up to $10.00
an hour.
Mr. Boettjer stated there will be a meeting of the members, and then a vote will be
scheduled. He will then let Mr. Carlisle know which of the choices it is going to be. Mr.
Carlisle stated he needs to know in a timely manner, because it has to be put on the
agenda for the first meeting on October 13th, and he needs to have it from Mr. Boettjer
by October 5tn
There being nothing further, Mr. Boettjer concluded the negotiations at 1:43 p.m.
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