11-30-11 Meet and Confer Committee Meeting

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THE CITY OF LA PORTE MEET & CONFER COMMITTEE MET THE 30th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2011, 4:00 P.M. AT CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 604 WEST FAIRMONT PARKWAY, LA PORTE, TEXAS. 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. INTRODUCTION OF MEET AND CONFER MEMBERS FROM THE CITY OF LA PORTE AND THE LA PORTE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (LPPOA) Committee Members: Steve Gillett, Interim City Manager Traci Leach, Assistant City Manager Ken Adcox, Chief of Police Heather Weger, Human Resources Manager Matt Novosad, Patrol Officer — LPPOA President Marcus Upchurch, Support Services Sergeant — LPPOA Member Chris Paige, Patrol Officer — LPPOA Member Other Attendees: Tom Barby, Representative from CLEAT 3. OPEN DISCUSSION RELATING TO ITEMS INTRODUCED BY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION AND/OR THE CITY OF LA PORTE, REGARDING COMPENSATION, LEAVE PROVISIONS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND CIVIL SERVICE PREEMPTIONS. a) Steve Gillett began discussions regarding the existing Meet and Confer agreement and the problems it creates not coinciding with the City of La Porte's budget cycle. For the current budget year it creates a significant impact, as the expiration of the current contract ends on March 31, 2012 and the City did not adopt within its budget for salary increases. Therefore, due to the contract an estimated one-half of the LPPOA membership would obtain step salary increases and an estimated one-half of the membership would not. b) Mr. Gillett discussed a few solutions/outcomes for the current Meet and Confer Agreement. I. Option t - Do not address the Meet and Confer Agreement — Mr. Gillett stated that he believes this is not a good option, as there are many issues that this would create as essentially all civil service preemptions that are addressed within the contract would defer back to the civil service rule regarding them. 2. Option 2 - New Agreement with the same cycle where both parties introduce their recommendations for a new contract and new agreements would need to be met. 3. Extend Current Contract for a Period of Six Months with no changes allowing for the new City Manager to be involved with the discussion and have a feel of the financial position of the City. Extending the current contract would extend step salary raises and all Civil Service employees would be treated the same this budget year. The agreement would remain the same with a new expiration date