Huron Expositor, 2001-01-24, Page 6FTHI MINION UXPOSITOM immure SO,
News
Councillors object to extra pay
to staffbeing�n. call on weekends
By Scott Hilpendorff
Expositor Editor
Several councillors,
including the deputy mayor,
were opposed to giving an
extra $60 per weekend for a
member of the public works
department to be on call.
"We're basically just
feeding more money to a
particular person who isn't
. doing any more work," said
Deputy Mayor Bernie
MacLellan at a Huron East
committee of the whole
meeting Jan. 16.
Administrator Jack
McLachlan said they were
trying to find a way to make
up for the extra hours
foremen were working that
was otherwise going
unaccounted for this winter.
But MacLellan saw the
proposal as an attempt to cut
down the number of hours
they work while paying them
more.
The proposal would see
overtime or time off being
allowed for any hours above
88 in a two-week pay period
with time -and -a -half paid for
all hours worked on Saturday
and Sunday for regular roads
employees.
Foremen, former road
superintendents from the
former municipalities that
now make up Huron East,
under Public Works
Coordinator John Forrest,
would be expected to work a
normal 40 -hour work week
and be required to take any
overtime as time off unless
Forrest approved paying
overtime.
Any hours a foreman
works plowing and sanding
and salting roads on Saturday
and Sunday would be paid
$26 per hour.
Employees on road patrol
on weekends would be given
an additional $60 for being
on call from December 1 to
March 31.
"I think what we're trying
to do is set up the whole
organization with a system
that's fair," said McLachlan.
Forrest said he's hearing
from employees that they're
working seven days a week
with no time off because of
how hard the winter has
been.
But Coun. Joe Seili of the
Brussels Ward said, "This is
the second time in a row
we've come back and
employees wanted more
money. We've got a lot of
stuff on our plates. If we sign
this, is that going to be it or
are we going to come back
and be asked for more
money?"
Coun. Larry McGrath of
Proposals not made public
as council prepares
to enter a new police contract
From Page 1
sign up on the municipality."
While cost and call reports
submitted by the OPP were
discussed during the open
committee meeting, the
documents, outlining the
costing options and number of
calls each municipality
received, were not made
public.
Despite the information
being discussed openly at the
council table, Administrator
Jack McLachlan wasn't sure
the OPP would allow the
information to be released
Expositor attempted to obtain
Thursday.
'With no, explanation under the Municipal
Act why the documents were not made
available, by Monday McLachlan and OPP
Staff Sergeant Gary Martin were still
discussing the release of the reports. The
Expositor called McLachlan again on
Monday seeking the documents but by
Tuesday's publication time, no call had been
returned and the documents were not made
available.
The staff sergeant had told the Expositor
he was not concerned about the information
being made public on Monday.
Council referred to figures in Grey
Township that indicated an increase in the
Quoted
'The OPP don't
give a rip how
we break out
the costs. All
they want is a
cheque,'--
Huron East Mayor
Lin Stafflar
when
a
The
copy last
number of calls to that
municipality.
With the number of calls
going up, Mayor Lin Steffler
said, "Maybe a price increase
is warranted."
McLachlan told councillors
a provincial Community
Reinvestment Fund (CRF)
should be available to help
cover any policing cost
increases but that the future
of those funds is in question.
"North Perth is having
trouble with the CRF
fupding for policing," said
McLachlan.
"If most of council is still vague, let's get
those guys back," said Seaforth Ward Coun.
Dick Burgess. _ .
Members of the OPP had been to a
transition board meeting, as council and
administration representatives worked out
the operating plans for Huron East this fall.
They attended to address the OPP costing
issue and have since made further reports to
the municipality to .attempt to clarify issues
as they negotiate a new contract for policing
in Huron East.
"The OPP don't give a rip how we break
out the costs. All they want is a cheque," said
Steffler.
Council was seeking more detailed
answers at its meeting last night.
Tuckersmith Ward said
council should revisit the
issue in the fall when they've
had a chance to see how all
the harmonized departments
from the five municipalities
will work together first.
"I think this is a fair
proposal but to hit us with it
at our third meeting, that's
unfair," said Seili.
Committee cannot make a
formal motion about the
matter which now has to
return to a regular council
meeting.
Huron East council is
working with a system that
will see them meet as council
and as committee of the
whole on alternating weeks.
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