HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.D.4. Amendment to Personnel Handbook for Paid-on-Call Firefighters-Res. No. 7270 •D • L i •
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SHAKOi
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Kris Wilson, Asst City Administrator
DATE: 01/08/2013
SUBJECT: Amendment to Personnel Handbook for Paid -on -Call Firefighters - Res. No. 7270 (F)
Action Sought
The Council is asked to offer Resolution No. 7270, a resolution amending Resolution No.6807, a resolution
adopting a Personnel Handbook for Paid -on -Call Firefighters of the City of Shakopee, and move its adoption.
Background
In September of 2008, the City Council adopted a personnel handbook specifically for paid -on -call firefighters. In
the four years since its adoption, the handbook has been amended three times by the City Council. At this time staff
is asking Council to consider a fourth amendment to the document -- to Chapter VII: Leaves, Section B: Unpaid
Leave of Absence.
Chapter VII, Section B currently grants the Fire Chief the authority to grant an unpaid leave of absence of up to
90 -days to any non - probationary employee in good standing. Leaves of absence have been granted to
provide employees the time to deal with personal, medical, and/or family issues as well as to adapt to changes in
their full -time employment.
The current Personnel Handbook was adopted at a time when paid -on -call firefighters served a one -year
probationary period similar to most other City employees. However, that has since be amended so that paid -on -call
firefighters now serve a two -year probationary period. The first year is devoted largely to formal training and
coursework while the second year provides for an opportunity to observe the employee's job performance in the
field.
The Chief recently received a request for a 5 -week leave of absence from an employee in month 18 of the required
24 month probationary period. The purpose of the leave would be to allow the employee to take a required,
out -of -state training course related to his desired field of full -time employment. Both the Chief and I believe it
would be in the best interest of the City to grant the unpaid leave of absence, as much has been invested by both the
City and the employee over the past 18 months. However, in order to grant this request and others like it in the
future, an amendment to the personnel handbook is necessary so that the potential for a leave of absence is open to
probationary employees.
The following is the recommended language, as amended:
Upon written request, the Fire Chief may grant an unpaid leave of absence for a period not to exceed 90 -days
to any mployee in good standing. In the case of probationary employees, the requested
leave must not interfere with the timely and successful completion of the required formal training and the
employee's probationary period shall be extended by the length of the leave in order to provide the City with
a full twenty -four months to evaluate the employee's performance. The employee must request a leave of
absence in writing, stating the starting and ending dates of the requested leave and the reasons for the leave
being requested. The City Council may extend such leave to a maximum period of of one -year where the
Council finds extraordinary circumstances warrant such extension.
Budget Impact
All leaves of absence for paid -on -call firefighters are unpaid, therefore there is no budgetary impact to the City.
Relationship to Vision
This is a housekeeping item.
Recommendation
Chief Coleman and I recommend adoption of Resolution No. 7270 as presented.
Requested Action
If the Council concurs, it is asked to offer Resolution No. 7270, a resolution amending Resolution No.6807, a
resolution adopting a Personnel Handbook for Paid -on -Call Firefighters of the City of Shakopee, and move its
adoption.
Attachments: Resolution No. 7270
RESOLUTION No. 7270
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 6807,
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PERSONNEL HANDBOOK FOR
PAID -ON -CALL FIREFIGHTERS OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 7270, a resolution adopting a Personnel Handbook for Paid -on -Call
Firefighters of the City of Shakopee, was adopted on September 16, 2008, and
WHEREAS, from time to time there is a need to modify such policies to best suit the needs of the
City and its employees.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE,
MINNESOTA, that Chapter Vll, Section B of the Personnel Handbook for Paid -on -Call Firefighters of the
City of Shakopee is hereby amended to read as follows:
B. Unpaid Leave of Absence. Upon written request, the Fire Chief may grant an unpaid leave of
absence for a period not to exceed 90 days to any non probationary employee in good -
standing. In the case of probationary employees, the requested leave must not interfere with
the timely and successful completion of the required formal training and the employee's
probationary period shall be extended by the length of the leave in order to provide the Citv
with a full twenty -four months to evaluate the employee's performance. The employee must
request a leave of absence in writing, stating the starting and ending dates of the requested
leave and the reasons for the leave being requested. The City Council may extend such leave to
a maximum period of one year where the Council finds extraordinary circumstances warrant
such extension.
Adopted in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held this 8th day of
January, 2013.
Mayor of the City of Shakopee
ATTEST:
City Clerk