02 City Council (9/23/03) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular City Council Meeting September 23 , 2003 Page 4 City Attorney Schenk said the scope of the review by the DOL official, the thought that Gene Anderson, Director of Finance would concur was extensive including reviewing of the details of the city's payroll records, immigration records, overtime records, interview of selected employees, etc. He said they were also cooperative in providing any information requested by the DOL official. City Attorney Schenk said he wanted to tip his hat to that individual he was very accommodating in providing the city significant time to locate and provide the documents, which were requested. City Attorney Schenk advised that this is the first formal review that has been conducted on the city's payroll and FLSA complaisance in approximately ten years. First of all, in reviewing the documents the DOL official was complimentary of the way the records were kept and the conditions of those records. City Attorney Schenk stated that as a consequent of that review, the DOL official identified only one minor anomaly in the way the city has been paying under FLSA. That anomaly involved how overtime is calculated for city firefighters who are required to step-up to another position when a firefighter normally occupying that position is not available to serve. In other words, if a firefighter served in a step-up position. City Attorney Schenk said then the firefighter incurs overtime and a different calculation is required from the one the city has been applying changing the way the city paid firefighters last year from 212 hour basis to a 53-hour basis aggravated that problem. As a consequent after reviewing the methodology, the regulations, interfacing with the DOL officials, the city identified $2,109.53 in back overtime for the last two years, which it will pay approximately 31 firefighters of approximately $65.00 on the average on each of those employees. With the exception of this adjustment, no other anomalies or violations were identified with regard to this investigation including the much speculated issue of how the city compensates the EMS employees pursuant to what is referred to as the seven K's. City Attorney Schenk said that he and Mr. Anderson were appreciated of their advice of the Department of Labor has provided them in correcting this minor matter so for the future of this methodology can be incorporated into the way the Fire Department initially calculates the overtime due in the way such overtime is subsequently paid by the Finance Department. Otherwise, the City of Paris has been given a clean bill of health with regard it's