Item 8BAGENDA ITEM # 8B
SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Payment of City Staff when
Business Offices were Closed
SUBMITTED BY: Jim Hanson, City Mana
DATE: September 9, 2008
BACKGROUND: City business offices were closed on Thursday, August 21St and Friday,
August 22°d because of Tropical Storm Fay. The city's mainframe
computer was shut down to protect it from electrical power surges, the
power and lights were out and the windows were boarded up making it
virtually impossible to do any productive work at City Hall during those
days. Because of that, most office staff were sent home. This included
most City Hall employees and those from the Community Centers.
However, other city employees worked throughout the storm including the
Police Department, Public Works and Public Utilities as well as all the
Department Heads that were not on previously approved vacation.
This staff report is to ask guidance from the City Commission about what
pay, if any, should be given to employees that did not work during those
two days. There is a fairness argument that those employees who were
sent home were ready and willing to work, but were unable through no
fault of their own. These are hourly employees who can least afford a loss
of pay. A quick review of other cities shows a variety of policies. Some
do not pay employees sent home, but most cities checked did pay full
wages for those sent home. Some people would complain about
employees who were sent home getting the same pay as those who
worked. For this reason, some of those cities provide additional pay or
time off for those that worked during the storm. Most did not. Another
side of the issue is that the public should not have to pay more for city
services during regular hours just because of bad weather. There does not
appear to be any "right" answer for all parties concerned.
The total value of personal leave taken during those two days by city
employees is just over $9,200. Most employees chose to use personal
leave rather than take a reduction in their paycheck. However, not all of
that leave taken should be considered for credit. Some employees had
preapproved vacation leave and were out of the city. Consequently, if the
city chooses to pay for those hours, the cost would be something less than
$9,000.
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
When this issue was reported at the commission meeting on September
8~', Mayor Meserve made a proposal to pay 75% of the normal wages to
those who were sent home because of lack of work. This would provide a
differential in compensation between those that did work and those that
couldn't. He also recommended that this decision be made for this
instance only and that future situations be brought to the attention of the
city commission for consideration based on the facts at the time.
BUDGET: The full cost of salaries for those employees sent home without work
during Tropical Storm Fay is estimated to be under $9,000. These funds
are budgeted and would have been spent had there been no tropical storm.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposal to pay 75% of the pay for those employees who
were sent home without work due to Tropical Storm Fay.