11-12-2013 ERMU MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Dietz asked about the commission compensation increase. The committee recommended that the commission implement a $50 stipend for commissioners when they attend extra events or meetings. The committee also recommended that the commissioners change the clothing policy for non-field employees to a flat dollar amount instead of a quantity limit. Al Nadeau asked if that would be for the commissioners as well and Troy Adams said it would, The committee recommended that the annual limit per non-field employee be $75. The money would not carry over from year to year. The commission agreed. Al Nadeau asked how other utilities' pay compares to ERMU's office staff. Troy Adams said that he did benchmark the Customer Service Representative position against other utilities in the area and that position was paid lower than others. He did point out, however, that it is hard to benchmark office positions as they are not always comparing apples to apples. Daryl Thompson said the commission split into four groups to try to get lineman to an area where we would stop depleting our staff. He recommended giving the lineman a 2.7% COLA that would make them competitive among surrounding utilities. The rest of the staff would be given a 2.1% increase based on the CPI and then since that is looking backwards, he would like the commission to wait until the final numbers are released in the spring and reassess given those results. Daryl Thompson supports the commissioner stipend and the clothing allowance for non-field employees. Al Nadeau said he agreed with the stipend and clothing allowance as well. John Dietz did not agree with Daryl Thompson's COLA recommendation, but does support the stipend and clothing allowance. Daryl Thompson made a motion to award a 2.7% COLA to the lineman pay group and a 2.1% COLA to the other pay groups with an evaluation of the CPI when 2013 figures are final. The other pay groups could potentially get an increase, but it would not go lower than a 2.1%. The commission will also implement a $50 stipend for the commissioners and a $75 clothing allowance for non-field employees. Al Nadeau seconded the motion, John Dietz voted nae. Motion carried 2-1. Troy Adams said that at the last commission meeting the commissioners discussed the dental insurance. It was decided that the company would absorb their portion of the increase and the employees would do the same, but this was not included in the motion. Daryl Thompson made a motion to approve that the company would absorb their portion of the dental renewal increase and the employees would do the same. Al Nadeau seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. 6.2 Set Date for Next Meeting The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting will be on December 17,2013. The Commission recessed the regular meeting at 4:28pm. Page 5 Regular meeting of the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission November 12,2013