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Councilmember Reimann explained comp time and the comp time schedule to <br />Councilmember Schlueter. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that in November of 1983 he presented the Personnel <br />Cxmmittee the ordinance on comp time along with a schedule of what all <br />employees would receive and it was approved. Mr. Schnelle stated that he is <br />concerned that Council now feels they were hoodwinked; this was all discussed <br />in 1983 so that Council would know what was happening and there would not be <br />any confusion; do not want to hoodwink anybody. <br /> <br />Councilmember Van Wagner stated that Council was aware of the number of hours <br />because the problem of accumulated comp time hours and vacation time was <br />discussed and the fact that nobody could be away from their job long enough to <br />use up these hours. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle referred to the preparation of the long term financial plan as an <br />example and stated that the City Accountant accumulated a lot of comp time in <br />preparing this document, which is less costly to the City than hiring <br />additional personnel. Once you hire a person, you have that person for a <br />lifetime. One of the top priority criteria in Ramsey has been to keep the <br />number of Staff personnel to a minimum. Council should be very happy that <br />these people are willing to put in extra hours in exchange for comp time; it <br />saves the City a lot of money and this City has done extremely well. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that the comp time schedule does show which departments are <br />in need of additional personnel and using the comp time method is less costly <br />to the City than hiring additional personnel. Mayor Gamec stated that he does <br />think that the next Council should review the comp time procedure. <br /> <br />Councilmember Reimann stated that Chief Aus~os' time would have been better <br />used in actual Chief of Police related activities rather than patrolling and <br />accumulating comp time. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that he feels very strongly about what is happening and <br />the City would be foolish to hire additional personnel; the City will have a <br />payroll they will be unable to live with. <br /> <br />Councilmember Sorteberg stated that it is true that the total cost figures for <br />comp time for each of the years probably does not amount to much more than it <br />would cost for just the fringe benefits for one additional person being hired <br />but he and Councilmember Reimann were surprised at the amount of comp hours <br />that are being accumulted. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that he would have appreciated the Personnel Committee <br />discussing this issue with him prior to this time. Mr. Schnelle stated that <br />he takes this issue and everything he does seriously; that he took this issue <br />before the Personnel Committee last year; and when he brings something before <br />a committee he hates to hear "so what else is new?" <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that the comp time schedule does serve as a fantastic tool <br />to use when justifying the need for additional personnel. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that Council's actions tell him that he should be more <br />conscious of hiring additional personnel rather than trying to save the City <br /> December 18, 1984 <br /> <br />Page 11 of 21 <br /> <br /> <br />