01-28-2002 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes January 28, 2002 ............................. Page 2 4.1. Consider Hiring Police Officers Police Chief Zerwas indicated that Officer Todd Besser's military leave of absence could last until the end of 2003. Chief Zerwas stated that the candidates that have been interviewed for Todd's patrol position have indicated that they do not want to leave an existing job and take this job if there is a risk of being laid off when Todd returns. The city administrator indicated that the Council could hire a patrol officer with the intent of transferring an existing position to drug control when Todd returns from active duty. The Council discussed the issues of not decreasing the patrol fleet and the need for a drug control officer and possible cutes in state aid. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER MOVED TO HIRE A PATROL OFFICER AND PLAN FOR A TRANSFER OF AN OFFICER INTO THE DRUG TASK FORCE WHEN TODD BESSER RETURNS FROM MILITARY DUTY AND TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED ON CUTS TO STATE AID. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4.2. Consider Pay Ranges for Building Inspector Positions Building and Zoning Administrator Stephen Rohlf informed the Council that he is in danger of losing two building inspectors to the City of St. Michael. He reminded the Council that he just recently lost the building official to the City of St. Michael. He indicated that following a survey he conducted of building inspectors wages using Group Six cities, he found that Elk River's building inspector wage was low. Steve requested the Council to immediately increase the pay of all building inspectors by $3,000 per year. He indicated that the increase is warranted due to the extra duties that all of the inspectors will be doing. Steve explained that the inspectors are splitting the previous Building Official's job dudes and that all of the inspectors would be doing commercial inspections. He recommended that a new non- exempt pay grade 15 be created and that the Lead Inspector and Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector move to the new pay grade. He further recommended that the building inspectors move from pay grade 13 to pay grade 14. He proposed to eliminate the vacant inspector position to pay for the increases. The City Administrator indicated that under normal conditions this request would go through the personnel committee, however do to the timing of this situation, the personnel committee has not had a chance to review the issue. He discussed the possible negative financial impact for the city as it relates to pay increases for other employee groups if the inspectors pay increase is given and the point rankings do not increase. The potential impact to the entire comp worth plan was noted. Discussion was held regarding how the employees are rated in terms of job worth and pay through the comp worth plan and whether the additional job dudes would bump the inspectors to a new pay grade. LoriJohnson indicated that the comp worth plan rates employees based on expertise, importance to the department, and unfavorable working COIlditions. Mayor Klinzing indicated her concern that the city can't respond to the job market under the comp worth plan.