Agenda - Council - 06/11/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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requirements to other local government employees. Local governments now must test any employee who is required to have a commercial driver's license (CDL) to perform a city job. The effective date for this law, as it pertains to the City of Ramsey (less than 50 commercial drivers) is January 1, 1996. Ms. Hart added that this does not pertain to Fire Fighters. She pointed out that we have met all the policy requirements and staff is suggesting preliminary approval this evening so we have time to go through it as well as having AFSCME review it. She pointed out that Kerr Transportation Service is the organization that a number of TUG participating cities have contracted with to administer their policy in conjunction with the new law and she recommended that Ramsey also contract with them. The cost is the initial "subscription" fee which is approximately $200 and then the testing costs which vary between $49 and $69 per test, depending on where the test is administered. Motion by Mayor Hardin and seconded by Councilmember Beahen to recommend Council approval of contracting with Kerr Transportation Services, Inc. to provide the necessary services to comply with Federal Regulations. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Hardin, Councilmembers Beahen and Beyer. Voting No: None. Motion by Mayor Hardin and seconded by Councilmember Beahen to recommend preliminary approval of Federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act and Related Regulations Implementation Policy. This would be followed by review of the policy by the City Attorney and AFSCME and that the final policy be brought back to Council. Motion carried, Voting Yes: Mayor Hardin, Councilmembers Beahen and Beyer. Voting No: None. Case #3: 1996 Environmental Services City Administrator Schroeder reminded the Personnel Committee that on September t2, 1995, Council directed that the Personnel Committee make recommendations regarding staffing impacts of the proposed 1996 budget. On November 14, 1995, the Personnel Committee met and approved all personal services recommendations but for proposals related to impacts to the Environmental Services position. Currently, the Environmental Specialist is a 0.35 FTE position. The 1996 budget proposes elimination of this position. At the November 14 meeting, staff presented four options relating to this position: Eliminate the position and lay off the incumbent, utilize funds from elsewhere to reinstate the position, eliminate the position but provide funding for an altered position or create a new position within the budget; or eliminate the full-time public works position proposed within the budget to allow the existing position to retain funding. He noted that the elimination of the part-time position does not disallow the opportunity for the incumbent to apply for the created full-time public works position. Mr. Schroeder felt that the greatest need for this position would be from May t to September 30. He stated he would like $8,000 allocated from Council's I996 contingency fund in order to provide on-going funding for Mr. Bacon's position. He stated that we would want City Council to recognize that Environmental Specialist could generate additional fee income through services such as inspections, etc. I I ! I I I Bruce Bacon expressed appreciation for the chance to review his position with the City Administrator and his ability to continue his work. He feels his position is important because of the development taking place in Rarnsey. He feels his background and expertise can bring something to this staff and he is hoping there are additional responsibilities he can bring forward. He added that grants are another area where he would have the opportunity to work. He also added that natural resoume issues scored high in the resident's survey. Personnel Committee/December 12, 1995 Page 2 of 3 I I I I