City of Central Falls
Personnel Committee Meeting
Monday, March 19, 2001
Continued from March 7th, 2001 & December 27th, 2000
City Hall Council Chambers
At 4:30 p.m.
Amended Agenda
Chairman Lazieh reconvened the Personnel Committee on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers at 4:30 p.m.
Also in attendance were:
Mayor Matthews
Brad Southworth, Personnel Consultant
David Brousseau, former firefighter
Jim Galligan, former firefighter
G. Dion, President of Firefighter Union
Chief Rene Coutu
John Burns, President Local 1627
a) Councilman Thomas Lazieh to Mayor & City Solicitor re: Discuss status of private contract with Fire Chief Rene R. Coutu.
Chairman Lazieh accepted the correspondence and place it on file.
Finance Director
Assistant City Solicitor
Director of Code Enforcement
Pursuant to R.I. G.L. 42-46-5 subsection (1) pertaining to personnel and subsection (2) Collective Bargaining & Litigation.
No Executive Session took place at this meeting.
a) City Police, Fire, & Municipal Union Officials
b) Mayor
c) City Solicitor and/or Legal Counsel
d) Personnel Consultant
e) Department & Division Directors
f) City Employees
g) Public comments
Chairman Lazieh asked Mayor Matthews to update the status of the contract with the Chief.
Mayor Matthews stated that it is ongoing.
Chairman Lazieh asked the Mayor if the Fire Department's arbitration award been implemented.
Mayor Matthews responded that some of it has been and other parts are budgetary and will need Council action.
Mayor Matthews and Chairman Lazieh discussed in detail the Fire Department contract and arbitration.
Chairman Lazieh questioned Gerry Dion, Fire Dept. Union President regarding the arbitration award and negotiations.
Mr. Dion stated that they haven't received any financial payments in the preceding 7 weeks and have filed an unfair labor practice.
Discussion centered on clothing allowance and raises.
Mayor Matthews responded that its not in the Budget and needs to be appropriated by the Council. He stated, however, that he would be paying with or without Council action.
Chairman Lazieh stated that the Mayor should be looking at any departmental overages and thinking about transferring them to the Fire Department.
Mayor Matthews responded that there are no overages in the budget to take from.
Chairman Lazieh stated that the Council could cut in the last quarter of the year. He stated that the Mayor should be taking measures to freeze spending on purchases etc.
Mayor Matthews responded that this is already being done.
Gerry Dion stated that if the City does make the payments then the Union would stop any further proceedings relative to the Labor Board. He also responded that the City's proposals are no sick days, vacation time use or loose payment of Health Care etc.
Jim Galligan commented on his longevity and retirement payments from the longevity, which is a payment of 7%, and not just from the base pay he stated that these are payments he made in his twenty-five years of service and should not be taken away now.
Mayor Matthews responded commented on this issue.
Chairman Lazieh questioned the status of the Police Department negotiations.
Mayor Matthews responded.
Chairman Lazieh questioned the Public Works/Municipal Contract. He asked how many unfair labor practices this Union has filed against the City.
Chairman Lazieh also questioned the hiring of the payroll clerk and asked why the laid off employees have not been called back.
Mayor Matthews responded and commented on the 18 month rule.
Chairman Lazieh also asked about the implementation of the Charter Revision which requires Council approval for the hiring of or contract of individuals that cost over $5,000 or work for a period longer than 11 months.
Chairman Lazieh asked Mr. Southworth if he wished to add anything in general about any of the topics discussed with the Mayor.
Chairman Lazieh also questioned the status of hiring a Finance Director and the Code Enforcement Director.
Chairman Lazieh commented on the contract with NEED.
There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Elizabeth A. Crowley, CMC
City Clerk