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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-2023 SPCC Minutes,m iT HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 — 5:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA Mayor Jones called the Special Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. ROLL CALL Mayor Fred Jones Vice Mayor Chris Nunn Council Member Kelly Dixon Council Member Ed Dodd Council Member Bob McPartlan Staff Present: City Manager Paul Carlisle Interim City Attorney Andrew Mai City Clerk Jeanette Williams 4. SPECIAL MEETING ITEM A. Charter Officer Contract Neeotiations Mayor Jones advised that he had been negotiating with the Charter Officers and during meetings there were some things that came up. He asked the Interim City Attorney to report on the items. The Interim City Attorney said he provided four agreements that resulted from the negotiations with the terms Council requested with the following exceptions: City Manager's contract — the vacation, sick leave and discretionary time will be given at the same rate as the managerial employees and upon separation will be given pursuant to City Council policy or the current Exempt Employees Benefits Package. He said one of the draft agreements included the existing package. Special City Council Meeting May 10, 2023 Page 2 He said if Council wishes the Manager and Clerk's vacation, discretionary and sick time to be governed by something other than the Exempt Employees Benefits Package, he would like direction on which method to use. He said Council could leave it that way and at the discretion of the Manager, the policy could be changed; or Council could adopt a City Council policy; or freeze the current Exempt Employees Benefits Package by attaching it to the agreement. Council Member Dodd said the Exempt Employees Benefit Package should be adopted by Council and applied to all non -union employees, to include the Charter Officers. He said he didn't see anything different than what they discussed in the union negotiations. Vice Mayor Noun said he was good with everything that Council Member Dodd said as long as it doesn't negatively affect the Charter Officers. For example, the vacation and sick time that Jeanette has accrued. The Interim City Attorney said the adopted City Council policy applies to vacation, sick, discretion and military leave but it does not deal with all of the other exempt employees' benefits. If this Council would like them to have all of the benefits in the Exempt Employees Benefit Package, he will need to rework the contract so that is clear. He said he would welcome any other comments. Council Member Dixon said she agreed, whatever Council decided they shouldn't affect the Officers negatively. Council Member McPartlan said he thought they were doing away with the longevity benefit. Council Member Dodd said the general employees' contract includes the longevity benefit. The City Manager said the language in the Exempt Employees Benefit Package is the same as the union contracts. Council Member McPartlan said the contracts should follow the exempt policy but the salary and raises should come back annually during the review. The Interim City Attorney advised they could do it either way --leave the longevity provision or have it controlled in the contract. Council Member Dodd said no salary increases should be granted outside of Council action. He said all employees should have the same benefits. Vice Mayor said he agreed and disagreed; longevity pay is not a merit based increase and should be included in the benefits. A merit increase is based on an evaluation. Council Member Dixon said she agreed as it costs a lot to hire a Charter Officer; it will give them incentive to stay. The Interim City Attorney said he understands that Council Member Dodd would not like the longevity in the exempt but the majority would like it included. Special City Council Meeting May 10, 2023 Page 3 The Interim City Attorney said in the negotiations with the Clerk, she indicated that she would like the policy to be adopted by Council and the ability to retain the vacation and sick time that she currently has. Vice Mayor Noun stated the Clerk works very hard and he recommended an addendum to allow her to keep the vacation and sick time until she is ready to retire. Council Member Dodd said the 2013 version of the exempt employees benefit package has a maximum of 400 accrued hours and the only change in the new policy is that those hired after October 1, 2022, won't be able to convert sick time to vacation time. It was changing the vacation and sick time the Clerk will be able to sell when she leaves. The Interim City Attorney said the 2013 version of the policy has expired and the Clerk's contract provides that she is entitled to the vacation and sick time when she leaves so by amending her contract and making her follow the policy, that is where she will lose her accruals. Council Member Dodd suggested they might develop an exempt policy that applies to all exempt employees except charter officers. The Interim City Attorney said there were a number of ways to address this: charter officers shall abide by the adopted Council policy. If Council would like all officers to be the same it can be indicated. If Council would like it to be different, they can add language that, "this provision should not apply to Charter Officers, only exempt employees." If the provisions are put in the contract they will be frozen in time. He said he heard that the City policy should be attached and to save the Clerk's current vacation and sick accruals. He also said the Clerk would like to retain the longevity benefit and the health insurance benefit at '/2 price for two years after 20 years of employment. Mayor Jones said he would work on speaking to the Clerk within and week and the Interim City Attorney said he would draft up the new contracts for the next meeting. Vice Mayor Nunn asked what needed to be done to give the salary survey increases to the three Charter Officers. The Interim City Attorney advised that he was instructed to use the salary survey number and he would have to research what the motion was and bring it back to Council. 5. Being no further business, Mayor Jones adjourned the Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Approved at the May 24, 2023 Regular City Council meeting. Mayor Fred Jones ATTEST. v J anefte li sl(idmsrCity Clerk _