The May 14, 2020 Emergency Meeting regarding the shared work program was held at 4:00pm by livestream broadcast on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Erin Enouen Councilwoman Bea Haugen-Depuy
Councilman Adam Paddock Supervisor Michael Baden
Town Clerk Kathleen Gundberg Town Attorney Marylou Christiana
ABSENT:
Councilman Chris Hewitt
Call to Order – Pledge to the Flag – Roll Call
Supervisor Baden opened the meeting regarding non-essential employees;
2 Deputy Town Clerks, 3 Recreation Employees, 2 Court Clerks, 2 CEO employees, 1 Assessor aide.
The options are to continue paying for hours not worked or place the employees on the Shared work program where the employee works 50% of their hours, the state program pays for the other 50 % worked and the employee qualifies for the additional $ 600.00 through July 31, 2020.
Councilwoman Enouen asked if we can opt one week in one week out? Is the employee responsible to file each week?
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy asked what the turn around time would be? Would the employee be paid the following week?
Councilman Paddock stated that there is a lot of work to be done with both the Code Enforcement office and the Town Clerks office. Some departments like the Rec department programs all stopped.
Supervisor Baden stated that with the shared work program the employee will still accrue time for retirement, vacation and sick time. Health insurance will continue for the employee as well. Each employee would have to recertify each week and anyone that has a hard time Supervisor Baden would make himself available to help fill out the paperwork. The work is currently being done at 50 % and we can potentially save approximately $ 3,000.00 per week. Currently the Town of Marbletown and Town of Rosendale have filed for this service.
Town Clerk Gundberg stated there is a lot of work to be done with both the Town Clerk’s office and the Code Enforcement/ Building department. We do have a work from home policy in the Employee handbook and would like to see these two departments be able to work the 17.5 in office hours and the remainder be completed from home if possible. Though we have been operating at the 50 % reduction work is piling up and its going to be hard to catch up, we don’t want to miss anything or give an opportunity for possible oversight. If we continue operating this way 3 or 6 months down the road can become havoc. Everything has been at a stand-still until this point but we can start getting creative and find ways to be able to get the work done and still follow the guidelines.
AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR SHARE WORK PROGRAM:
Resolution # 129 -2020:
A Motion was made by Supervisor Baden to apply for shared work program through New York State as two separate units. 1 unit will be the Court Clerks and the other unit will be the Assessor aide and the recreation department.
Second: Councilwoman Paddock
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy aye
Councilman Hewitt absent
Councilman Paddock aye
Supervisor Baden aye
DEEMING DEPARTMENTS ESSENTIAL:
Resolution # 130 -2020:
A Motion was made by Supervisor Baden effective Monday May 17, 2020 deems the Town Clerk’s office and the Code Enforcement/ Building Department essential services with the expectations to work a 35 work week.
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy aye
Councilman Hewitt absent
Councilman Paddock aye
Supervisor Baden aye
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to adjourn the meeting at 4:32pm
Second: Councilwoman Enouen 4-0aye, motion carried
Hewitt- absent
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
KATHLEEN A. GUNDBERG
TOWN CLERK