02-09-2004 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes Page 4 February 9, 2004 ............................. 4.7 Consider Voluntary. Insurance Quote from League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Finance Director Lori Johnson explained that the City had received a quote for accident coverage for city volunteers through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. The City currently purchases a separate worker's compensation insurance policy for board and commission members. Volunteers who respond to emergency situations are automatically covered under the City's workers' compensation insurance. However, this policy would insure volunteers who are not covered by workers' compensation insurance, such as volunteers for park and recreation, clean-up day, or other city activities and programs. The premium for basic coverage for one year is $1,500 with an optional $675 per year for medical benefit coverage. Councilmember Motin asked how many incidents have ~ve had in the last five years. Ms. Johnson replied that there have not been any incidents with volunteers. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE TO APPROVE THE $1,500 PREMIUM FOR BASIC COVERAGE. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4.8 Consider Hiring Building Inspector Building and Environmental Administrator Stephen Rohlf explained that City staff had interviewed three of the 39 applicants for the vacant position of building inspector. Those involved in the interviews were unanimous in their recommendation to hire Dave Hetrick to fill this position with the recommendations as outlined in the memo from staff. Councilmember Dietz asked Ms. Johnson her viewpoint on the additional $3000 as an annual increase. She gave the background of how this came about and expressed some concerns about comparable worth and pay equity law. She indicated that the Council has several options including leaving the additional pay for building inspectors in place or begin phasing it out by paying new inspectors according to the pay plan Councilmember Motin inquired as to the impact of the comparable worth issues and staying in compliance. Ms. Johnson explained that according to the pay equity la~vs, compliance reports have to be submitted to the State every five years now instead of every three years. She further stated that an increase in pay for this classification could put the City out of compliance, but she was not sure because the current pay data had not been analyzed and because the actual compliance would be based on the data as it existed on the next reporting date which is December 31 of 2004 or 2005. If the City is out of compliance, penalties may be assessed. She stated that the Personnel Committee has been directed to do a salary survey and will be looking at btfilding inspector pay including the market adjustment. Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf explained that the salary studies show that the City of Elk River is above for Group 6. However, it is hard to do comparisons. Some in this group are code enforcement officers which are not the same as building officials. Each step and each position for building inspectors was given an additional $3000 to retain the inspectors when other inspectors were being hired at St. Michael. He stated that East Bethel is actually earning more because their employees are given 3% in deferred comp; so when asking for a salary survey, it is not a true evaluation. He suggested that perhaps it's necessary to re-look at the study and rather than lower the