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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 1999Town of Ithaca tty Personnel Committee Meeting December 8,1999 12:00 Noon At the regular meeting of the Personnel Committee for the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County,New York,held at the Town Hall,126 E.Seneca St.,Ithaca, New York,there were present: Members:Town Supervisor Catherine Valentino;Paul Tunison,Production Department Leader,Bolton Point;Councilman Ed Conley;Dani Holford,Senior Typist;Larry Salmi,HEO. Staff attending:Judith C.Drake,Human Resources Specialist. Call to order:12:10 p.m. Agenda Item #2: Minutes of the October 27,1999 meeting were approved without corrections. Agenda Item #3:Persons to be heard:None present. Agenda Item #4:Recommendation of Wellness Program. Ms.Drake explained the program as written.(See attached draft copy) The program is aimed at increasing the mental and physical health of the employees.This program is based on reimbursing the employee for their participation in a health club,weight management,smoking cessation or other health related program.The employee must participate for at least %of the time period before reguesting reimbursement and there are specific monetary limits per employee.This program will take time to prove its worth,therefore,will not reduce the Town’s costs on health insurance or Worker’s Compensation tomorrow. Mrs.Holford suggested gathering information about different health and exercise related programs and have them posted to increase the interest of the employees. Mr.Salmi guestioned who would make the decision if a program would qualify for reimbursement.Mrs.Drake explained that all reimbursements are turned into her and if she felt it was guestionable,it would be brought to the Personnel Committee for a decision.Most of the programs have defined reguirements.A physical fitness program must be designed to increase ones heart rate for a minimum of 20 minutes.A weight management program required some type of professional who keeps an eye on the person’s total health.It can’t be something purchased through the mail or over the counter i.e.diet pills,home exercise equipment. Supervisor Valentino and Councilman Conley expressed their support for the program. Agenda Item #5:2000 meeting dates: Meeting dates were approved by the Committee members. Agenda Item #6:Continue Review of Personnel Manual: Mrs.Drake explained that she only got through editing the Introduction.History, and Employment Policy section.She explained how the wording was adjusted to open up the policies to also cover employees working at the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission. There was some question about relating the Ethics Law to SCLIWC.Supervisor Valentino suggested discussing it with SCLIWC’s personnel committee.For the time being it is labeled as “Town only”. The Employee Assistance and Qmbuds Service was opened up to all employees.SCLIWC Administrative Department Leader was added as the contact person to the Sexual Harassment and Anti-Harassment policies. There were questions regarding the Smoking Policy as it was written in the original manual.Mrs.Drake explained that the Town’s policy was not being followed as written.Do we change policy or enforce it? The Committed decided to change the wording from:“SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL TOWN FACILITIES,AND ALL TOWN VEHICLES. Smoking is prohibited in all public areas of Town Hall,Highway facility office and any enclosed work area including Town Vehicles." To:“SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL FACILITIES AND ALL VEHICLES. Smoking is permitted only outside the buildings and vehicles or in any designated area.Smoking is permitted in vehicles when others are not present or in their own designated vehicle.The right of a non-smoker to smoke free air will prevail over an employee’s desire to smoke”. In the Statement of Safety Policy and Safety Eguipment and Training Policy the proper referenced program has been added.In the Security Procedures the Facilities manager was added.Mrs.Drake asked Mr.Tunison'to get to her anything additional needed to this section before the next meeting to cover SCLIWC’s security procedures. Drug and Alcohol Policy was changed to also included during working hours and not just in the workplace.There was no change to the Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy and Procedures. Mrs.Drake explained that the safety toed shoes issue will be coming to this committee in January,and ask Mr.Tunison to describe SCLIWC’s policy on uniforms and safety shoes.He explained that everyone except office staff are reguired to wear steel toed shoes.There was a $20 reimbursement in the past, then it was included in the uniforms cost share.Supervisor Valentino suggested that SCLIWC’s Personnel Committee discuss this cost share again. SCLIWC’s Clothing/Uniform policy requires Distribution Department staff to wear uniform style clothing during all working hours.The uniform will have the employee’s first name and identify them as employees of SCLIWC.The Commission pays to have the employee’s name and Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission’s logo put on the uniforms,but the employee purchases the uniforms.SCLIWC then authorizes the reimbursement of $150 per year at a 1/3 employee,2/3 employer cost share.Production Department could participate if they wished to.The Town employee’s uniforms are rented and cleaned weekly and are paid in full by the Town. Mrs.Drake asked Mr.Tunison about I.D.cards for the employees.Mr.Tunison explained that all the distribution staff have cards.He is working on getting cards for the Water Treatment Plant Operators,because they occasionally go out in the field.They are currently using photo Sheriff I.D.s. Other topics: Mr.Tunison asked how changes are to be handled,for example vacation policies.Mrs.Drake explained that the changes have been improvements and hasn’t taken anything away from the employees.The last version of the Vacation Policy says that this policy supercedes any previous vacation policies.Mrs. Drake explained it will be up to this Committee to decide what to do,but the old schedule for SCLIWC should be left unchanged for those employees. The changes discussed will be brought back at the January 19,2000 meeting for final approval.Mrs.Drake will work on drafting the General Information Section. Meeting adjourned:12:55 p.m.