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Commissioner Zerwas asked what entities offer 15 days of time off to new hires. There <br />was discussion. <br />Mr. Hanson added for consideration that ERMU is not only in competition with other <br />utilities with regard to administration and water staff, whereas the Metro Average comes <br />from other electric utility companies. <br />Mr. Ninow contributed that ERMU's current vacation offering have made it harder for the <br />water department to hire experienced staff. <br />Commissioner Zerwas shared that he was amenable to do some increase in vacation <br />accrual this year while next year creating a policy for lateral transfers for new hires with <br />more experience, giving them more days to start with. <br />The Commission asked staff to develop a policy for lateral transfers. <br />Chair Dietz proposed the following vacation accrual schedule: <br />0-3 yrs. <br />13 days <br />4-9 yrs. <br />16 days <br />10-11 yrs. <br />17 days <br />12-13 yrs. <br />19 days <br />14-15 yrs. <br />20 days <br />16-18 yrs. <br />22 days <br />19 yrs. <br />25 days <br />20-21 yrs. <br />26 days <br />22-23 yrs. <br />27 days <br />24+ yrs. <br />28 days <br />There was consensus to adopt this schedule. <br />Chair Dietz asked that the minutes state that the committee was recommending a 4% <br />wage adjustment instead of the Metro Average of 3.47% in response to extreme inflation <br />but that this should not be considered a precedent for future wage adjustments. <br />Moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Zerwas to approve <br />proposed 2024 Wage and Benefits Adjustments with the adaptation to the vacation <br />accrual schedule, effective January 1, 2024. Motion carried 5-0. <br />5.11 PFAS Litigation Settlement <br />Mr. Hanson presented his memo sharing that legal staff has advised him that it was in <br />ERMU's best interest to join a class action lawsuit against 3M and DuPont for the <br />proliferation of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). <br />Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes <br />November 14, 2023 <br />Page 8 <br />39 <br />