West Cook News

Village of Western Springs General Government Committee met Nov. 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present

Chair Tyrrell, Member Nawrocki, President Rudolph, Village Manager Baer, Deputy Village Manager Biernacki, Director Mastandona, Deputy Clerk Haeske, and Assistant to Village Manager Chavez

Chair Tyrrell moved to open the committee meeting, seconded by Member Nawrocki. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Rudolph. The General Government Committee meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.

Agenda Items

1. Public Comment

There were no public comments.

2. Approval of Minutes

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Committee Member Nawrocki, to approve the minutes of the meeting minutes of October 4, 2023, as read. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki. Voting nay: None.

3. 2024 Budget

Village Deputy Village Manager Biernacki presented the health, dental and life insurance renewal information for 2024. Health insurance will increase 8.2% and that is the percentage increase we are budgeting to account for changes in employee elections throughout the year. The 2024 renewal rates for health and dental coverage remain unchanged from 2023.

Village Manager Baer presented the highlights of the proposed Board of Trustees operating and capital budget. Deputy Village Manager Biernacki reviewed the highlights of the 2024 operating budget for the Village Manager's Office and Legal. Director Schramm presented the highlights of the IT Management Services budgets. Deputy Village Manager Biernacki presented highlights of the communications operating budget for 2024.

Deputy Village Manager Biernacki then reviewed the 2024 staffing plan and pay plan and reviewed the modifications from 2023. There are no proposed staffing changes in the Village Manager's Office, the Department of Community Development, the Department of Engineering Services, the Department of Information Technology, and the Department of Finance.

In the Department of Law Enforcement Services, the Director requested that one sworn of the Patrol Officer positions be reclassified as a Sergeant position. The new Sergeant is proposed to act as a "Detective Sergeant" and will oversee the department Detective Unit, School Resource Officer, and Field Training Officer. Staff is also including additional funding for potential part-time assistance in the coming year.

In the Department of Fire & EMS, the Director has requested the addition of a second part-time Daytime Firefighter position. This position will ensure a senior/supervisory role is available for each duty shift. The hours are currently filled by paid-on-call staff which will help offset the cost of the part-time Daytime Firefighter.

In the Department of Municipal Services, the Director is requesting a Municipal Services Coordinator position. This position would replace the Municipal Services Analyst position and provide mid-level administrative support and project management. The position is proposed to be placed in Grade 6 of the Pay Plan.

In the Department of Recreation, the Director has requested that the Recreation Administrative Coordinator position move to Grade 9 in the Pay Plan to reflect the change made during the 2023 fiscal year as approved by the Village Board.

Increases for employees covered by the Teamsters 700 (Maintenance Journeyman I/II), MAP 456 (Sergeants) and MAP 360 (Patrol) are outlined in their collective bargaining agreements.

A general adjustment to salaries in the amount of 3% is proposed to be included in the FY2024 budget. An additional merit pool of up to 1.25% is proposed in the budget and would depend on individual employee performance. Title changes and other market adjustments for specific positions/employees recommended by the Village Manager will be subject to budget availability and will be within the pay plan ranges unless otherwise recommended by the Village Manager and approved by the Village Board.

4. Other

Village Manager Baer provided the committee with an overview of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act which will require employers, including municipalities, to provide 40 hours of paid leave to employees on an annual basis. Beginning January 1, 2024, employers must provide employees one hour of paid leave per 40 hours worked and allowed them to carry over up to 40 hours of paid leave annually. Employers may set a minimum increment of no more than two hours per day for the use of paid leave. Paid leave accrued may be taken for any reason without documentation, but employers may set leave policies that require employees to provide notice of seven days for foreseeable leave and as soon as possible for unforeseeable leave.

The Act does not preempt or alter leave benefits subject to current collective bargaining agreements. Cook County also has a paid leave ordinance, but municipalities are allowed to opt out of that county ordinance. Village Manager Baer said we are working with our attorney to prepare opt-out language for the Board's consideration.

Nothing in the Act prohibits an employer from adopting a policy that establishes some parameters for taking leave and limited reasons the employer may deny leave for operational necessity.

Village Manager Baer said that we have been reviewing the Village's personnel manual and will be adding updates relevant to Paid Leave for All Workers. Draft changes recommended by the Village Manager will be provided to the Board for consideration of approval. Adding an additional holiday for Juneteenth in 2024 will be considered in this review. The committee concurred with these recommendations.

5. Schedule Next Committee Meeting

The next General Government Committee meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

6. Adjourn

MOTION:

Chair Tyrrell made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Member Nawrocki. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11072023-1579