08-22-1989
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CITY OF EDGEWATER
MERIT BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1989
7:30 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
Chairman, Harry Jones called to order
Merit Board at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday,
Conference Room of City Hall.
a regular meeting of the
August 22, 1989, in the
ROLL CALL:
KAREN GRASBERGER
MARVIN OWENS
CECE STEVENS
SHERRY'YOUNG
HARRY JONES, CHAIRMAN
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Also present were Mary Ann Vendrasco, Payroll/Personnel/Insurance
clerk, Elly Johnson, City Manager (arrived mid-way through the
meeting) and Sondra Meager-Pengov, Secretary.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mrs. Grasberger moved to
Meeting of July 26, 1989
Vendrasco's name, as she
Seconded by Mrs. Stevens.
approve the minutes of the Special
as corrected, eliminating Mary Ann
did not attend the Special Meeting.
Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Mrs. Stevens moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting
of July 26, 1989, inserting under Temporary (NTE) Employees,
section a) to read Temporary (NTE) Employees will be paid at the
same rate as other City Employees of the same rate including
overtime after forty (40) hours. Seconded by Mrs. Grasberger.
Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Mrs. Young moved'to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of
August 2, 1989 as presented. Seconded by Mr. Owens. Motion
CARRIED 5-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Temporary (NTE) Employees Mr. Jones stated he had spoken with
Mr. Johnson, City Manager concerning Temporary (NTE) Employees
and he sees no need for Temporary (NTE) because it was in the
contract that in case of an emergency he has the authority to
hire temporary employees. Mr. Jones agreed with Mr. Johnson.
So, with that information, the Merit Board will forget the
(NTE's) completely.
Druq Testinq - Mr. Jones referred to the memo from the City
Managel-. MI-. JOhn~ discussed with Mr. Jones nego t i at ions are
in process and the y is proposing a prOgra~hat Mr. Johnson
says is SU1-e the Mer i t Board wi 11 be "happy wi th. " Mr. Jones
told Mr. Johnson one of the things the Merit Board wanted the
employees of the City to know is that the Merit Board was also in
favor of a drug testing program.
Mr. Jones also referred to a number of things that have come up.
One being, some of the people of public works are saying they
don't like it, (being tested for drugs) they have their rights,
etc. Mr. Jones told Mr. Johnson, they are right, they have their
rights. If they want to go out and get all hopped up on dope and
get drunk, that's their business. But, they had better be clear
when they come into work the next day, because all that is
needed is reasonable suspicion -Qand the management will be able
to test them.
Mrs. Stevens said that through hearsay and rumor that she
understands that there is an employee of the City that was
arrested for selling drugs, but not charged with selling. This
person has not had a trial as yet. If this is true, Mrs.
Stevens says their supervisor-S should be aware, because this is
reasonable cause for this person to be tested. Mrs. Stevens
asked Mr. Jones to follow-up on this.
Mr. Jones inquired into this and the answer he got, was the City
Attorney had advised that they could take no action at this point
because, according to the law the man has to be found guilty by a
jury of his peers before he is guilty. Mr. Jones says, he
doesn't agree with that whole heartedly, but he is aware of this
case.
Mrs. Grasberger believes the issue with this particular
individual, that the attorneys concern is, if any action is taken
by the individual's supervisor and the individual is not found
guilty of the charges, that individual could probably turn tables
on the City.
Mrs. Stevens feels that a urine test be given to this individual.
Mrs. Grasberger asked, give the test on suspicion that he is
coming to work under the influence of something? Mrs. Stevens
said, yes. Mrs. Grasbeger said that is how it would have to be
addressed. You couldn't be testing this individual because of
this incident that occurred elsewhere. If this is not handled
properly, Mrs. Grasberger said the City could end up being sued.
Reference was made
Smyrna Beach having a
for selling a drug.
of it." The next day
by the Board members of an article on New
similar problem. An employee was arrested
Police found the employee's home was "full
he was fired, without being tested for
0-
drugs.
Q
o
Mr. Jones said that the Board and Council are very much concerned
with the "dope" situation and no one has mentioned alcohol. The
States law that goes into effect the 1st of January states, they
are going to the "drug free l'IIork place act." The first item of
definitions is alcohol.
Mr. Jones stated city employees have to conduct themselves as
though they were and are employees of the City twenty four hours
a day. The City employees represent all the Citizens twenty four
hours a day.
After further discussion, Mr. Jones said the Merit Board is on a
temporary hold with the drug policy for a time.
NEW BUSINESS:
Report from Board Members/Chairman Mr. Jones said that
Councilwoman Bennington requested that when a Board sends data to
the City Council for action that minutes and all data available
with regard to the action be submitted to the Council for prior
l-eview.
Mr. Jones also discussed Joann Sikes (contract employee.) The
note written by Mrs. Sikes was re-read to the Board. Mr. Jones
had conferred with Mr. Munoz on the verbal contract Mrs. Sikes
has with the City. Mr. Jones suggested she discuss her problem
with her supervisor concerning her additional hours.
It was suggested by Mr. Jones to Mrs. Sikes to decide if in fact
she would be better off not saying too much concerning her hours
as it may be cheaper for the City to hire an outside company to
do the same work at less cost.
Mr. Johnson arrived at this time and Mr. Jones introduced him to
the Board.
Mr. Johnson stated, if this case goes any further, the job will
go to a janitorial position and she would have to take a drastic
cut in pay if she were to apply for the position.
Mr. Jones and Mrs. Stevens briefed Mr. Johnson on the discussion
on drug testing that had occurred earlier in the meeting.
Mr. Johnson stated
"reasonable cause" in
you must be very cautious with the clause
the drug testing issue.
Mr. Johnson stated we are going to change the image of the City.
We are going to ~rt with our employees an~go all the way up
the line to department heads. We are going to be a place where
people want to come and be. We are going to be proud of what we
do and where we work in the community.
There being no further business to come before the Board Mrs.
Grasberger moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Young.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Sandra Meager-Pengov, Secretary
City of Edgewater Merit Board
/smp