06-19-96 v MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITY
COMMISSION, HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT 6:45 PM ON WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 19, 1996.
Present: Lyman T. Fletcher, Mayor
John S. Meserve, Commissioner
Tim Reed, Commissioner
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Commissioner
Also James R. Jarboe, City Manager
Alan C. Jensen, City Attorney
Maureen King, City Clerk
Absent: Steven M. Rosenbloom, Commissioner
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Fletcher.
1. Award bid for a fire sprinkler system in the new construction at the public safety
building, pursuant to the specifications of Bid No. 9596-20 (Rebid), at the bid price
of$10,960.00
The City Manager explained that the contractor was ready to pour the concrete slab and
installation of the fire sprinkler system would require a pipe to be laid under the concrete. The
City manager indicated he did not want to delay the project and had, therefore, requested the
special called meeting so the City Commission could act on this matter.
Commissioner Meserve moved to award a contract to Fire Sprinkler Service for the
installation of a fire sprinkler system pursuant to the specifications of Bid No. 9596-
20(Rebid) at the bid price of$10,960.00. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Shaughnessy and carried unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, the Mayor declared the
meeting adjourned.
ria edeli
Lyman T. Fletcher
Mayor/Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
?it4./\
Maureen King, CM
City Clerk
i
MINUTES OF THE HEARING HELD IN ATLANTIC BEACH COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT
7:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 1996, TO SETTLE THE IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 2622
Present: Lyman T. Fletcher, Mayor
John S. Meserve, Commissioner
Tim Reed, Commissioner
Steve Rosenbloom, Commissioner
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Commissioner
Also: James R. Jarboe, City Manager
Richard Brown, Union Negotiator
Alan C. Jensen, City Attorney
Maureen King, City Clerk
The Mayor called the meeting to order and asked the City Attorney to explain the procedure to be
followed.
The City Attorney indicated that each presenter would have five minutes to present his case and,
following both presentations, three minutes would be allowed for rebuttal. Commissioners would
then have an opportunity to ask questions,following which the public would be given an opportunity
to address the City Commission, and were asked to limit their remarks to two minutes.
Jim Jarboe presented the city's position on the first item of impasse. Mr. Jarboe explained that
the City and the Union had reached impasse on two items, namely, salary and pay plan. He indicated
that they were very close on the matter of salary and distributed a handout setting out the salary
ranges proposed by the city and the union. A copy of each proposal is attached hereto as Exhibit
A. He recommended that the City Commission adopt the city's proposal on salaries. He thanked Mr.
Brown for his professionalism in the negotiations.
Richard Brown, Union Negotiator for Local 2622, agreed that there was not much difference in
the salaries proposed by the Union and the City but indicated that there were greater differences in
the matter of the pay plan. He agreed that negotiations had been pleasant and professional with Mr.
Jarboe.
Richard Brown then presented the Union's proposal for a step pay plan. He indicated the
current step plan had been established to address problems of employee retention and felt it was a
good long term management tool and also a career incentive for employees. He felt employee
retention was a safety issue and the City and Union needed to work together to address high
employee turnover. He reminded the City Commission that the firefighters had worked for nine
months without a contract and requested that the City Commission keep the current step plan for the
remaining three months of this fiscal year.
F
Page Two
Minutes of Impasse Hearing
June 19, 1996
Jim Jarboe indicated the city was concerned with step plans in general because pay raises became
almost automatic and because there was an automatic built in increase each year. It was the city's
position that the step plan should be eliminated. However, he indicated he was committed to work
with the Union to stabilize the Fire Department.
Following the presentations, City Commissioners presented their questions regarding the proposed
salary ranges and step plan. Discussion ensued regarding the best way to conduct a salary study and
some concern was voiced regarding the Florida League of Cities data which had been used. Following
a complete discussion by the City Commission, the Mayor called on citizens who wished to speak to
the matter.
The following citizens related personal experiences which had required the services of the Fire
Department and indicated they had received a high level of professional service: Penny and Patrick
Kamish, 193 Beach Avenue; Nancy White, 1729 Seminole Road; Penny Riley, 159 Third Street;
Ralph Bell, 664 Beach Avenue;Doug Conners, 620 Plaza; Melody Griffith, 368 Seventh Street; Jim
Hill, 372 Seventh Street; Sherry Hill, 214 Margaret Street, Neptune Beach; Mitch McCue, Atlantic
Beach Firefighter; John McDonald, 690 Plaza; J.P. Marchioli, 414 Sherry Drive; and Joseph Dagher,
Saratoga Circle. Each voiced support of the Fire Department and urged the City Commission to
approve salaries commensurate with the level of training and expertise of the firefighters.
Since no one wished to speak further, the Mayor closed the floor for public comment and
summarized the issues to be decided.
Commissioner Reed moved to accept the city's proposal for salaries. The motion was seconded
by Commissioner Meserve, and following further discussion, the motion carried on a vote of
4 - 1 with Commissioner Shaughnessy voting nay.
Commissioner Shaughnessy moved to reject the city's proposal to eliminate the step pay plan.
The motion died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Meserve then moved to accept the city's proposal to eliminate the step pay plan.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rosenbloom and carried on a vote of 4 - 1 with
Commissioner Shaughnessy voting nay.
Following the vote Commissioner Meserve indicated he did not feel the step plan was in the best
interest of the city or the firefighters and indicated he preferred a merit pay plan. Commissioner
Rosenbloom agreed and suggested that negotiations for a contract for next year be started
immediately. He also indicated the City Commission had agreed to hire a professional to handle the
negotiations for next year.
Page Three
Minutes of Impasse Hearing
June 19, 1996
Commissioner Shaughnessy indicated she did not want the city to become a training ground for
firefighters who would ultimately leave for other cities. She felt there was a hidden cost related to
employee turnovers and felt a step pay plan was a good tool for employees.
There being no further discussion, the Mayor declared the m-- '-: adjourned at 9:12 PM.
Lyman T. Fletcher
Mayor/Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
f Qct 2 cc„ i -
Maur en King, C C
City Clerk
4-
EXHIBIT A
JUNE 19 , 1996
Union Proposal
for
Step Pay Plan
FireFighter
Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
8.34 8.59 8.84 9.17 9.38 9.66 9.95 10.25 10.56 10.88 11.20
Driver/Engineer
Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
9.17 9.44 9.73 10.02 10.32 10.63 10.95 11.28 11.62 11.96 12.32
Fire Lieutenant
Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10.54 10.86 11.18 11.52 11.86 12.22 12.59 12.96 13.35 13.75 14.17
/ IBIT A
FIRE DEPARTMENT MERIT STEP PLAN ,
OCTOBER 1,1995
REFLECTS HOURLY RAIL SO)
GRADE 1 2 3 4 6 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Firefighter $20,018.00
$7.69
Driver Engineer $23,067.72 $23,759.75 $24,472.54 $25,206.72 $25,962.92 $28,741.81 $27,544.06 $28,370.39 $29,221.50 $30,098.14 $31,001.09 $31,931.12
$8.37 $8.62 $8.88 $9.15 $9.42 $9.70 $9.99 $10.29 $10.60 $10.92 $11.26 $11.69
Fin LI $27,734.00 $28,566.02 $29,423.00 $30,305.69 $31,214.86 $32,151.31 $33,115.85 $34,109.32 $35,132.60 $36,186.58 $37,272.18
$10.06 $10.37 $10.68 $11.00 511,33 $11.67 $12.02 $12.38 $12.76 . $13.13 $13.62