HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-12 97-145 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Date: 3-12-97 Item No. 91-145
Item/Subject: Order, Adopting City of Bangor Revised personnel
Rules and Regulations
Responsible Department: Administration
Commentary:
The attached Order would provide for the adopting of Revised
Personnel Rules and Regulations which essentially cover all non -
zed employees. As the Council is aware, this comprehensive
review and rewrite has been underway for the past several years
and through the work of an employee committee, involvement of key
City staff and rew by the municipal Operations Committee, the
revised document is w ready for formal Council consideration.
A Council Workshop was held on February 19, 1997 to discuss the
remaining issues from the review conducted by the municipal
operations Committee. Those issues were resolved at the Workshop
Session and staff has incorporated the final changes into the
Rules and Regulations manual. Any necessary future amendments to
the manual will be presented in a timely manner, ensuring that
the document is kept current with changes in personnel law and
generally accepted personnel policy.
Associated Information, order, memorandum (Document provided
under separate cover due to length)
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval
introduced For
x passage
First Reading Pageof
Referral
9J-145
Auigmd to Csu W Leea March 12, 1997
a pp CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) (0thr, ___..... .....Atlspoing City-of--Bangor-Revised.. Rules and_.
Regulations
By do City ConnmU of CUy of Beeper.
ORDERED,
THAT the City Council hereby adopts regulations
entitled 'City of Bangor Revised Personnel Rules and Regulations"
with an effective date of March 31, 1997 for the benefit and
guidance of City employees, a copy of which is on file in the
Office of the City Clerk; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT the effective date for the
accrual of the fifth week of vacation for those non -unionized
employees who have completed twenty years of continuous service
shall be July 1, 1996; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT all previously adopted
Personnel Rules and Regulations including any amendments are
hereby repealed.
IN CITY COUNCIL
March. 12, 1997 97-165
Passe�d/ 0 R 0 E R
CLePK Title, Adopting City of Bangor Revised
Rules and Regulations
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^ �^ Cowcilman
97-145
Li aSC83 MIJI]II SI
TO: Members of the Bangor City Council
FROM: Robert W. Farrar, Director of Administration and
Human Resources
SUBJECT: Revised Personnel Rules and Regulations
DATE: February 14, 1997
On Wednesday night February 19th, we have scheduled a workshop with
the full Council to review the Revised Personnel Rules and Regulations for
non -unionized employees. As you may be aware, it has been many years
since this document has undergone a comprehensive review. The last
complete revision occurred in 1977, and other than a limited number of
amendments over the years, the Rules and Regulations have remained
largely unchanged. Obviously, over this period of time, many changes in
personnel policy, practice and law have occurred, necessitating a rewrite of
the 1977 manual.
The process to revise and update the Personnel Rules and Regulations
began several years ago with the formation of Committee consisting of
both employees and management staff. That Committee reviewed the
existing Personnel Manual, received employee comments, reviewed other
Personnel Manuals and this information helped form the basis of the revised
document. Along the way, input, advice and recommendations were also
received from the City's Human Resource Manager, Director of
Administration, City Manager and legal staff. The City's outside Labor
Employment Council, Tom Johnston, also reviewed the document and
offered advice.
This several year effort culminated in a DRAFT copy of the Personnel
Rules and Regulations which was prepared in January, 1996 and distributed
to non -unionized City Departments and Division personnel for further
comment and input. City staff met with the Municipal Operations
Committee (Blanchette, Leen, Woodcock) over a several month period
during mid to late 1996 and reviewed the document in its entirety. The
Committee made several recommendations in a number of areas which have
been incorporated into the document.
97-145
In general terms, the Committee appeared to support the revised document
As with my effort where changes from the existing practice are
contemplated, there were a few areas that Committee members did not fully
embrace.
Based upon my recollection and the minutes of the meetings, however, there
were very few topics remaining where consensus had not been reached at
the Committee level.
I should note that many sections of the original document continued to be
applicable and were incorporated with no change or only minor changes.
For your information and to aid in your review, let me first liar those areas
where significant changes occurred.
1. Introduction/Welcome/Mission Statement Section 1
2. Employment Definitions Section 3
3. Selection Policy Section 4.4
4. Explanation of Position Classification and Pay Plan Section 6.1.
5.4
5. Discussion of Merit Pay Plan and Performance Evaluation
Section 5.5
6. Exempt/Non-Exempt Positions (Fair Labor Standards Act)
Section 5.6
7. Compensatory Time Explanation - Exempt/Non-Exempt
Positions Section 5.6
8. Acting Capacity Status Section 6.3
9. Reductions in Force- Expanded Procedure Section 6.7
10. Disciplinary Actions- RewrigerdClarified Section 6.8
11. Personnel Record Maintenance Section 6.11
12. Nondesignated Holidays Section 7.1
13. Vacation Accrual -5th Week Added Section 7.2
14. Workers Compensation - Light Duty Program Section 7.3
15. Alternative Retirement Plan Language
(Non Maine State Retirement System) Section 7.5
16. Explanation of Insurance Plan Offerings Section 7.7
17. Legal Defense and Indemnification Section 7.8
18. Employee Assistance Program Section 7.9
19. Sick Leave - Payment to Estate upon Employee Death Sec. 7.10.1
20. Sick Leave - Pool for Emergencies Sec. 7.10.1
21. Sick Leave Bonus Provision Sec. 7.10.1
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22. Sick Leave - Family and Medical Leave Act Sec. 7.10.1
23. Grievance Procedure City Council Level Section 8.2
20. Travel Expenses/Travel Policy Section 9.5
25. Sexual Harassment Policy Section 9.7
26. Conflict of Interest Section 9.8
27. Political Activities Prohibited Section 9.9
26. Weapons and Firearms Section 9.16
There were three main areas where the Committee had continuing dialogue
and where a need for farther discussion was identified:
1. Compensatory Time for Exempt (Salaried) Employees Section5.6
2. 5th Week of Vacation after 20 years of Service Section 7.2
3. Grievance Procedure -Council Level Section 8.2
1 anticipate that there will be employees who will attend the Workshop
Session for the purpose of stating their opinion on various sections of the
proposed revisions. I expect the most interest will center around addition
the fifth week of vacation, a strongly held sentiment, particularly with long
term employees.
Staff who have worked on the project look forward to discussing and
reviewing this document with the Council. Should there be any questions
that we can answer prior to the workshop, please feel free to contact either
the City Manager or me at your convenience.
cc: City Manager
City Solicitor