Minutes - Council - 03/08/1989 - Closed Executive Session

Home

of pay rather than pay another officer thc overtime rate to cover a shift on a holiday. Ms. Olsen stated that LELS is requesting compensation for working out of classification but management is not obligated by law to bargain with regard to classification out of unit. There can be a policy established between the unit and management but it should not be negotiated into the contract. Ms. Olsen stated that LELS is requesting an investigator position with $125/month increase in wages and a 6 month advance for clothing. Mr. Auspos stated that it was his intention that the investigator position receive a clothing allowance but not a higher rate of pay. Ms. Olsen that the LELS unit is requesting stand-by for court appearance pay. Mr. Auspos stated that the current practice is that officers on stand-by court appearance that are not on duty remain at home until the City Attorney calls to say they are or are not needed to testify in court trials; if the officer's testimony is necessary, there is sufficient time to get into uniform and drive to the Anoka courthouse. Now the stand-by pay will be a mute issue because Ramsey's trials will take place at the Columbia Heights facility and the officer will have to spend the stand-by time at the courthouse because there is not sufficient time to get into uniform and drive to Columbia Heights following a phone call from the City Attorney. Ms. Olsen requested that City Council provide her with guidelines to operate within relating to wages and medical insurance benefits during LELS contract negotiations; she would not expect Council to give authority to negotiate more than what is currently on the table in AFSCME negotiations; she suggested that in the interim, Mr. Auspos work up cost figures for other portions of the package proposal while she explores the priority of those other issues, with the exception of working out of classification which is non-negotiable. Mayor Reimann requested being provided with cost figures for uniform expenditures for the last two years in Ramsey. Mayor Reimann noted that if the cost figures warrant it, he would be in favor of an across-the-board clothing allowance for the officers and investigator and each officer taking full responsibility for their uniforms from that allowance. Council consensus was that Ms. Olsen should proceed to negotiate wage increases up to 3% and retain the insurance participation at $182/month to eliminate the disparity between it and what is being provided to the AFSCME unit. The meeting recessed at 8:45 p.m. Mayor Reimann called the meeting back to order at 8:57 p.m. Ms. Olsen suggested, and Council agreed, that the City also propose to convert longevity percentages to dollars. Ms. Olsen stated that she, Mr. Hartley and Mr. Auspos will be reviewing the contract language for any necessary amendments. Mr. Auspos stated that he would like the flexibility to upgrade the phycial fitness portion of the proficiency tests. Closed Executive Session/March 8, 1989 Page 3 of 5