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Case #5 <br /> <br />MAMA LABOR RELATIONS SUBSCRIBER SERVICE <br />By: Kay McAIoney, Personnel Coordinator <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The Metropolitan Area Management Association (MAMA) Board of Directors has, for <br />some years, been indirectly participating in the League of Minnesota Cities contract with <br />Labor Relations Associates (LRA) for certain services. These include an annual seminar <br />on a timely labor issue, general membership services available to all members of the <br />League and "special subscriber services". <br /> <br />For a variety of reasons the MAMA Board recommended that the portion of the contract <br />pertaining to special subscriber services be separated and contracted directly with <br />MAMA. Personnel services, labor relations information and employee compensation <br />analysis services would be provided to subscribers. The services include most of the <br />services which the metropolitan area subscriber cities have been receiving under the <br />subscriber service program that have been in effect through the League for more than <br />twenty years. A number of important new services which the MAMA Committee believes <br />are needed by Minnesota cities in the 1990s have been added. They include: assistance <br />with individual city efforts to meet the requirements of the State Local Government Pay <br />Equity Act as administered by the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations, <br />assistance to cities with regard to grievances, personnel policies and practices, <br />responses to administrative agencies in such areas as veterans' preference, workers' <br />compensation, unemployment compensation, equal employment opportunity, affirmative <br />action and employee discipline. LRA will also provide regional training opportunities <br />dealing with supervisory issues, significant labor relations issues, and issues <br />pertaining to State and Federal legislation. <br /> <br />The fee for the City of Ramsey to subscribe to these services would be $2,600.00 for the <br />period of March 14, 1991 through March 14, 1992. <br /> <br />Staff contacted Mr. Bernie Steffen who, for many years, has represented the City of <br />Ramsey in labor negotiations and other personnel related matters. Mr. Steffen stated <br />that his firm could provide services to the City of Ramsey on an "as needed" basis, at an <br />hourly rate of $51.00. There would be no automatic monthly mailings as with the <br />subscriber service, but rather a fee for the amount of time spent on any particular <br />topic. Mr. Steffen would be available to answer telephone questions as a consultant on <br />personnel related matters, provide background legal history from his law library when <br />requested, assist in the event of grievances, and provide other information as requested. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />The City of Ramsey has chosen not to continue the professional services for 1991. These <br />negotiators have provided personnel related information throughout the year, in addition <br />to their negotiating. From time to time unexpected issues may arise that would <br />necessitate the services of a consultant with a specific area of expertise relating to <br />personnel matters. <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Personnel Coordinator and the City Administrator only, be <br />authorized to utilize the services of a consultant specializing in personnel related <br />matters for 1991. Any charges will be made to professional services in 1130 <br />Administrative Services, which has been funded for 1991 for $5,000.00 allocated for <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br /> <br />