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