Who gets paid for overtime and when?
That was the issue of debate in Clarkston last week as the financially strapped city put its Department of Public Works (DPW) payrolls under the microscope.
‘The council has no idea if we’re paying a lot, a little, what for, or why we’re doing it,? said Councilman Cory Johnston, who asked for the late-addition agenda item. ‘I think that’s just unconscionable.?
Currently, DPW employees earn straight time wages when they work a standard weekday shift anytime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Everything outside those parameters? weekends, holidays, midnights, or any shift that runs over eight hours, scheduled or otherwise’comes out of city coffers at time and a half.
At least it did, until last week’s city council meeting.
‘Nobody I know of pays the overtime we’re paying,? Johnston said. ‘There’s not a company that could survive if they were paying at the DPW’s overtime policy.?
To illustrate his point, Johnston cited payroll records indicating, for example, that a part-time DPW employee scheduled to work a Saturday, even if it’s his only shift of the week, would be paid time-and-a-half.
The same wage is paid to DPW employees who work during parades, Concerts in the Park, Art in the Park and a number of other special events,
The policy, Johnston continued, is in direct violation of overtime guidelines established, adopted and published in an employee handbook last April.
The second-term councilman has repeatedly questioned various aspects of DPW practice and policy, but remains unsatisfied with the answers.
‘I know the information is out there, but for me, it’s like pulling teeth to get it,? he said. ‘I have been asking for years and it takes numerous requests in council, emails, and then I might get some of it.?
Johnston also said he believes other ‘serious issues? exist within the DPW, but declined to elaborate.
‘I’ll stick to overtime for now,? he said. ‘We could have a whole other meeting on other issues in the DPW. This is a place to start because (overtime pay) is controlled by any company anywhere’any city, any municipality, everybody.?
Mayor Sharron Catallo voiced a somewhat different perspective.
‘I think the safety issue to the community is much more important than writing in a policy manual,? Catallo said. ‘It’s a safety issue. This place has operated for a long time, and pretty well, to be honest. We don’t need to be overwhelmed by rules. It’s a small community.?
Other members of council agreed special considerations should be made for safety considerations such as plowing, downed trees and other short-notice needs, but generally agreed with Johnston.
‘Certainly we can’t take into account the snow removal,? said Councilman Charles Inabnit, noting that employees who work in emergency call-in situations are entitled to extra pay. ‘But the other events are planned well in advance and they should be scheduled as that. Every business has to schedule their employees and we shouldn’t be any different.?
Others echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the council’s responsibility to govern spending.
‘We told (DPW Supervisor Bob Pursley) before he needs to maintain a high level of transparency in what he’s doing so we can all understand where the money’s going,? said Councilman Mike Gawronski. ‘I think it’s incumbent on us to understand how the DPW budget is spent; I do see opportunity to save money, perhaps reallocate money by better management.?
Ultimately, the council passed a motion asking the city manager to advise Pursley to follow employee policy manual in respect to overtime pay with exception that he has discretion to handle emergency short notice situations.
Pursley, who was unable to attend last week’s meeting, said he was informed of the change and has taken the appropriate measures, but wasn’t altogether happy with the unfolding of events.
‘Nobody ever comes into my office and asks why we’re doing it this way or why we’re doing it that way,? said Pursley, who works a part-time salaried position as the city’s DPW supervisor and does not collect overtime pay. ‘They bring it up at a public meeting when I might not be prepared for it. It kind of hits you broadside.?
Pursley said guidelines in the employee handbook were vague and didn’t address several key issues such as holiday and weekend pay.
?(The council) said when we passed it, and I said, it was a starting point, we had to work on it,? said Pursley. ‘Even (City Manager Art Pappas) told me just do what we’ve been doing and we’ll address it later, so that’s what I was doing.?
In addition to Pursley, the DPW employs one full time and three part-time staff. Pursley said he worries that cutting wages will affect city services in one way or another.
‘My concern is covering our job and making sure we have guys that are willing to come in and work,? he said. ‘If they start nickel-and-diming them, they’re not going to come in and do the job. They don’t pay these guys that much anyway.?
But, Pursley noted, changes weren’t as drastic as he’d feared.
‘It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I thought they would take all the overtime away,? he said.
‘I’ve been working here a long time,? he said. ‘I know the budget’s tight, and I prevent a lot of overtime. I don’t think it’s abused at all.?