Minutes 06/22/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1999 would probably average about $125 per month per employee, thus making up the funds necessary to balance out any VRS increases. Mr. Owens then again appealed to Council' s sense of fairness, and asked them not to discriminate against its municipal employees. Mayor Crabtree then stated that, in its most simple terms, the 30/50 plan was a 5-year early retirement benefit. Council Member Roop stated that he was very concerned from a fairness standpoint about Council' s action to opt out of the 30/50 Plan, and stated that Council had not had enough information earlier to make a good decision. He stated that there was no way to know what future VRS rates would be, and that these rates were tied to how VRS invested its funds. Council Member Roop stated that it was unfair that School employees should receive the benefit while other City employees did not, and that Council needed to reconsider the issue. He then moved for Council to reconsider its earlier vote to opt out of the VRS 30/50 program, and to vote to participate in the program. His motion died for lack of a second. Mrs. Brenda Gilbert, an employee of the City Treasurer' s office, then asked of Council their reason for opting out of the 30/50 Plan. Mayor Crabtree responded that the potential future costs to the City was the reason. Mr. David Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert' s husband, asked how many personnel might be eligible for the benefit, and was told 42. He then asked for the numbers used by the City to reach the conclusion that additional costs would be incurred, and asked for this information to be made available to the City employees. Mayor Crabtree then asked City Manager Earl B. Reynolds Jr. to meet with the employees and share the information available on projected costs for the program. Mr. Reynolds stated that he would be happy to do so, and also pointed out that none of the 24 school employees eligible for the plan would be able to benefit from it. Mr. Gilbert then asked if the issue might be reconsidered by Council following the megting with Mr. Reynolds, and was told that the expiration date for opting into the program was June 30, 1999. Mr. Gilbert then asked if Council would be willing to have a special meeting to reconsider action on the issue. Mayor Crabtree stated that if Mr. Reynolds recommended the need for a special meeting of Council it would be considered, but that he did not anticipate this occurring, and that this was a financial decision. Ms. Donna Odell, an employee of the City Finance Department, then stated that she had a petition signed