06-20-12 Meet and Confer Committee Meeting (2)

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THE CITY OF LA PORTE MEET & CONFER COMMITTEE MET THE 20" DAY OF JUNE, 2012 AT 3:00 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 3:00 p.m. Attendees: Steve Gillett, Ken Adcox, Chris Paige, Matt Novosad, David Huckabee, Marcus Upchurch and Tom Barbee. 2. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 23, 2012 MEETING. Minutes were reviewed and approved by Ken Adcox and Matt Novosad. 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. Figures were reviewed in regard to the impact of the salary survey and implementation of new rates based on that survey. Matt Novosad agreed that the numbers were in line with what the La Porte Police Officer's Association had come up with as well. Steve Gillett advised that he will not be able to do anything with Meet and Confer before he leaves his interim position of City Manager, as the new City Manager will start working on July 2, 2012. He advised that he has been working hard on the budget to try and allow for regular merit increases for all non -civil service employees; however the new City Manager will be making the decisions in regard to Meet and Confer compensation changes and also dealing with medical insurance and its impact on the City budget. During the last meeting, the City asked the Association to look at a proposed Emergency Pay Policy and advised them that Council was going to review that proposal and that is should be included in their agreement. The Association did not have any significant issues with the policy as it was originally proposed. However, City Council has not approved the policy and has asked that the new Human Resources Manager review the policy before bringing it back to Council for approval. The policy and implementation into the Meet and Confer contract will be revisited after any revisions are made. During the last meeting, the City asked that the Association consider wording in the contract to state that one must pass the Civil Service exam for promotion, and you should not be promoted if you did not pass the test based on seniority points. The Association stated that they did discuss this and some members understood and others think that is a change in Civil Service law. The item will have to be discussed further before a decision can be made in regard to implementation of this into the Contract.