03 City Council Min 5-23-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular City Council Meeting May 23, 2005 Page 9 Councilman Manning expressed a concern about the retirement plan at the City not being able to be added to. Councilwoman Wilkerson wanted to know if their tenure could go with them. Tony explained if you were vested with TMRS, then the employee can leave that with the City and continue to earn interest until the employee reaches the retirement age of 60. Councilman Manning said he thinks they should take this to the voters and let them have a say in this. He wanted to know if this item should be an Ordinance instead of a Resolution since it has to do with expenditures. Larry Schenk, advised the nature of this contract would actually be a revenue contract. Councilman Ray reiterated Councilman Manning’s request. Mayor Fendley said they could amend it to be an ordinance. Motion by Councilman Wilson to approve Tony Williams to proceed to a contract with Waste Management and bring it back to Council. Councilman Poston - second. Motion carried - 4 ayes, 3 nays. Councilman Ray, Councilman Manning and Councilwoman voted against approval of this item. 6.Discuss the status of personnel reductions in the fire department. Tony Williams stated that he proposed reductions as the result of finances discussed with Council. On March 14, 2005, the Council gave direction to Tony to proceed with reductions of 56 positions with the exception of EMS. Tony proposed a reduction of six full-time positions in the fire department. As of this date, four people have either left or given notice. There are two remaining to get to that six reduction. These two employees have not obtained the status of full firefighter, being in a probation status. Based on a legal opinion, we can protect their civil service status by putting them on administrative leave upon their last day of service. Larry Schenk informed Council administrative leave would be administrative leave without pay. The purpose would be for them to continue their status as an employee to finally serve out the full year of probation, so that they can be placed on the list. They could return when there is an opening, or in the alternative take another position with another fire department. This would alleviate them having to go back through the fire academy or re-test. Councilman Ray stated there are two firemen on the list to be hired by Greenville. He wants to extend their termination date to an additional thirty to sixty days. Councilman Wilson suggested forty-five days and Councilman Ray said he was not opposed to that. Tony stated he took this as direction.