[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6190276,"mediaKeyId","5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a","parentId",5051975,"title","City staff propose switching short‑term disability and replacing long‑term disability with group accident plan to lower costs, increase early benefits","audioSeconds",818,"startMs",2220000,"endMs",3038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a&start=2220&end=3038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a/thumbnail_2220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190276/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/City-staff-propose-switching-shortterm-disability-and-replacing-longterm-disability-with-group-accident-plan-to-lower-costs-increase-early-benefits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190276-34a0efdd3f04c5c70ac0d9d52eace90d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773649552&Signature=EbI1E8erp6wcs7WW1Gld2vPJQghoFQzwZ3RqnaLZpE6goizt7ydkMKwxq7geCvLUPNKjva9Kas29tf3OXYk0Tuw8hodzbKP~tPt8MR4z~wmsqnIDzEEvR9dbHKmOM5VoW9DpKS6JhONaZO8mYjIZJkoBnM77pzhEM5gtVKkFtn~pd9nGAZbT-opxNSmR0s59tppAbm8cawYhKEF~TitE-0tTw8bXyI2f2h3DsoKb9Wh~MoRq7anHJG4DYel6zKeQaxtaOD~fdvJ7KGK5S~ggWha2oyAb-85Fq5-Xo4Ej5UU~6t~7AU~tPu7qk-Nt5t6K4Wem2zVp1ZhZ-v8rUObJgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-23T13:46:35Z","article","Hiram City human resources staff proposed replacing the city’s supplemental benefit arrangements to reduce costs and change the mix of employee protections, saying the city could lower short‑term disability premiums, increase weekly short‑term payouts and replace the city‑paid long‑term disability with a group accident plan.

Kathy presented quotes comparing the city’s current carrier relationships with proposed Colonial Life products. She told the council the city’s current short‑term disability (STD) cost — based on the submitted census — was about $1,119.19 per month; Colonial’s quote for the same census would be $815.14 per month, which Kathy said represents an annual savings of $3,648.60 if the city switched carriers. Kathy also said the Colonial short‑term disability plan would increase the maximum weekly benefit from $750 to $1,000 and shorten the elimination period for sickness or accident from 14 days to 7 days; both plans would provide a 26‑week maximum benefit duration.

On long‑term disability (LTD), Kathy said the city currently pays about $706.30 per employee for LTD coverage that very few employees have historically accessed. She proposed replacing LTD with a group accident plan that would cost approximately $513.24 (the packet described a yearly savings of $2,316.72) and which would provide on‑ and off‑job accident coverage, recovery‑style benefits and specialized provisions (for example, an included gunshot wound benefit and escalating benefits based on tenure).

Life insurance: Kathy explained the proposed Colonial life product would raise city‑paid life insurance costs (from $384.04 on the current census to $490.25) because Colonial’s underwriting would provide a $50,000 guaranteed issue amount for all eligible employees rather than lower amounts for non‑management staff. Kathy said the Colonial product offers portability, a two‑year rate guarantee, conversion options without proof of good health and an accelerated death benefit for terminal illnesses.

Other offerings: Kathy described an optional program (referred to in the packet as a new “20/25 tuned offer”) that would provide hearing tests, custom hearing protection and hearing aid coverage for employees at no initial cost in year one, plus Norton LifeLock identity protection benefits for employees.

Procedural items and next steps: staff said any change would be planned for an effective date of Jan. 1 and that open enrollment would occur in October; staff requested time to prepare census updates and enrollment materials. Council asked staff to coordinate the supplemental insurance discussion with the employee handbook work session and to place the item on the next work session agenda.

No final procurement or contract award occurred at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 17, 2025 Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Hiram City human resources staff proposed replacing the city’s supplemental benefit arrangements to reduce costs and change the mix of employee protections, saying the city could lower short‑term disability premiums, increase weekly short‑term payouts and replace the city‑paid long‑term disability with a group accident plan.","taxTitle","Hiram City , Paulding County, Georgia","taxId",73712,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6190281,"Old Town Hiram Business Association outlines marketing budget as council considers hotel‑motel excise distribution",533,1685000,2218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a&start=1685&end=2218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a/thumbnail_1685000.jpg","/articles/6190281/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Old-Town-Hiram-Business-Association-outlines-marketing-budget-as-council-considers-hotelmotel-excise-distribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190281-1d9d31aa3cceb787fb7397c3ed4bbbaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773649552&Signature=VJAch4HCtn5ym-NqgxcAEqbjEHC6BcHJzkKvdXISM111SWTr4WdG1sgjuqb53-6a6wEvnCRUdBlx6qkFHnvm0nSUaZPwgTttK6VaYQAI39PwSdr58RlmNla8VUckttGw-HUjvryfobMvVr35h2wh1Fq7X6aJHQ9K4o~yVUCzyX0stcpWN7p42XEs9Uy06Zjb49G9Zr88A6sIy9QsZHBsiiqq5DZ55ZD-hLReP0VJx-5Zb4rNzr883jbMQhS1mAEaDQ9FY3ZxA9pxEcWBd7bVBggXkQ~BwUjKZRwA3mhjXbpc8uwpV1DUZwI0tbqezvgrQilURr0R0-E~MMpgOG23qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hiram City Council heard a presentation from the Old Town Hiram Business Association on the group’s use of hotel‑motel excise tax funds and a proposed budget for the coming year as the council considered renewing the distribution agreement.

Jody, who introduced the agenda item, said the council already has the current contract and the association’s reports of expenditures. April Mathis, treasurer of the Old Town Hiram Business Association, reviewed the association’s expenses for the current year and a proposed budget for the next year.

Why it matters: the hotel‑motel excise tax distribution provides local promotional funding that supports downtown events and marketing. How the council allocates that fund determines what the association can spend on advertising and events that aim to draw visitors and support downtown businesses.

What the association reported and proposed: Mathis said the association spent roughly $25,000 on billboards and digital ads this year and about $16,000 on event coordinators; screen/movie advertising cost about $12,000. The group spent about $8,200 on a content creator and listed roughly $8,400 for promotional items and $5,000 for mailers and roughly $8,400 on printing (including event shirts).

For the coming year the association proposed changes intended to focus impressions more strategically. The proposal reduced billboard and digital advertising to about $15,000 while increasing funds available for event coordination (Mathis estimated event coordination might reach $25,000 if the association partners with the city on more events). Other proposed allocations included about $10,000 for screen/movie ads, $21,000 for a content creator, $7,000 for promotional items, $5,000 for mailers and $7,000 for printing. Mathis also requested a small reserve for event‑specific items such as signage and wristbands.

Partnerships and next steps: Mathis said the association has been partnering with the city on events such as Juneteenth and Red, White and Boom and asked the council to consider working with the association on a shared event coordinator. Council and staff agreed to move the item to new business for a future meeting so the renewal and proposed distribution can be considered formally.

No formal approval or disbursement decision was made at the meeting; council staff said they would place the hotel‑motel distribution agreement on a future agenda as new business.","The Hiram City Council heard a presentation from the Old Town Hiram Business Association on the group’s use of hotel‑motel excise tax funds and a proposed budget for the coming year as the council considered renewing the distribution agreement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6190286,"Hiram staff propose comprehensive employee handbook rewrite; council asked for feedback by July 10",1063,628000,1691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a&start=628&end=1691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a/thumbnail_628000.jpg","/articles/6190286/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Hiram-staff-propose-comprehensive-employee-handbook-rewrite-council-asked-for-feedback-by-July-10","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190286-7318d9260e72a5ba14b20706926f66b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773649552&Signature=BZCfE8RjQFNw0VRCampHZzXegNHiG5QNn5bT9WzRqYSsebQVLUbZ256XNK7pDo~7jkcSuQr~vzOHy8CwFF2a02Fcz15tdqpWvKiN3C7rJE~C~e0Xqr0W18mm20m2HRLYhFEvpk-3e3-Z3dvxSSMVW-yQDne9wxJYiqt9E-FiUWjmO4bhU~PLKh9y2c6CG~1kIRfExGK5baSozt06lhlSEIahMJnL44Dqci3ZGfrC8SSp998jIzRsquiBHeuGnxH74Q-MOYkM4jdXeL8iFX10MZDIQFeO8rvmE6XRRA6TCwfQwwoEozer01E~hb69IUjI-WdW4J9s-vr~C-dZt07v5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City human resources staff presented a rewritten employee handbook to the Hiram City Council that consolidates policies added since 2015 and proposes new language on several personnel matters, including breastfeeding support, HIPAA clarification, PTO accrual, bereavement leave and wage continuation for work‑related injuries.

Kathy, who led the presentation, told the council the current handbook has been in place since 2015 and that many policies adopted since then were distributed separately; the rewrite pulls those items into one document and adds new options staff recommends the council consider. “One of the policies we've added is the required breastfeeding support policy that we had to have and also a HIPAA clarification,” Kathy said.

Why it matters: the rewrite would place current informal practices into formal policy and add new benefits intended for employee retention and to address pay continuity when workers are injured. That could affect payroll costs, leave administration and how supervisors handle absences.

Substantive proposals and clarifications discussed:
- Section changes: staff consolidated and reworded sections 1–4 to reflect current practices and to add optional future policies.
- Dress and logo guidance: staff proposed allowing jeans Monday–Thursday as part of a casual dress option and recommended clarifying use of city‑logo apparel when employees are not representing the city.
- Terminal pay and PTO: staff proposed a higher terminal pay PTO payout for employees with long service (up to 12 weeks for employees with 20+ years or those eligible for retirement after 10 years), removal of the maximum accrual cap, and options to allow employees to carry additional accrued time so PTO can cover a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) absence of up to 12 weeks.
- Bereavement leave: recommended expanding paid bereavement for spouse, child and parent from three days to five days, with three days retained for other family members.
- Wage continuation for workplace injuries: proposal would provide full salary for the first seven days of a work‑related injury (workers' compensation typically begins paying at day eight at 70%). The policy would allow payroll deductions to recoup the employer‑paid portion if workers' compensation later reimburses the city.
- Administrative process: Kathy described the city’s existing FMLA process and said medical documentation is handled solely through her office.

Next steps and timeline: Kathy asked council members to submit suggested edits by July 10 so staff can prepare a revised draft for a July or August work session. Council agreed to place the handbook item on the next work session agenda for further review.

No formal ordinance or personnel policy was adopted at the meeting; the council asked staff to return with a revised draft after receiving council comments.","City human resources staff presented a rewritten employee handbook to the Hiram City Council that consolidates policies added since 2015 and proposes new language on several personnel matters, including breastfeeding support, HIPAA clarification, PTO accrual, bereavement leave and wage continuation for work‑related injuries.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6190291,"Hiram council reviews 500‑foot spacing rule for downtown historic overlay after salon inquiry",221,169000,390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a&start=169&end=390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5051975-f62155d7a3e4e38e861663771ba2442a/thumbnail_169000.jpg","/articles/6190291/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Hiram-council-reviews-500foot-spacing-rule-for-downtown-historic-overlay-after-salon-inquiry","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190291-5d117d5c8f4d7f9c3e38e670e0123bcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773649552&Signature=QT5HikiYwNFsYqPoIp1fJUJd0PXZAkKlRC8~pi6u1~MIfaMjgyIM-QnTWlbJCt6-Dht1L2IfFfecNslwW7lR-XehcORoWn~-h0shcJxWh8nPADysCrEOK7hCUalnyKbvVYjAobe79D5MQxdjGe-RnFQgo8G2P-SfHFk6MSijS0Jvgm7ADmq7DubH~EOOXEn8YHK3jssDht1tMuxq5Y5jgeCCFa~8to99j2Rv0Hxk9OWI6kjW6zkWgqwoYTo6sU0aWegsORQ4x3JVULepAPRvi~f7uHDD3D4jCl7Y1cJWMYWYZaKlgJIDCELe1yoi22zwW0TSUI8yxj40NCeuEJixbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hiram City Council members on Monday discussed whether a proposed salon could locate inside the downtown historic store overlay district, where a 500‑foot spacing rule limits similar businesses.

The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councilmember Carroll, and staff told the council that the overlay contains a “hard threshold of 500 feet” for similar businesses but that other distance references — including a potential variance within about 1,000 feet — can sometimes apply. “It is. There there we were talking earlier tonight, that there are some other references to distance, like there's between if it's within a thousand feet, there's a variance that could possibly be applied for,” a staff member said.

Why it matters: the downtown historic overlay covers a small area of Hiram, and the spacing rule was designed to avoid clustering identical retail uses in short blocks. Council members and staff said the restriction can deter multiple identical businesses in the core of the overlay but noted the overlay could change with future redevelopment, which would change how spacing affects new tenants.

Details: council discussion identified three practical factors that will determine whether an exception can be considered. First, the applicant must define the business use more precisely; staff said two businesses that appear similar (for example, two hair‑related businesses) could still be treated as distinct if their services are materially different. Second, an existing clerical or administrative error allowed a second salon to locate within the overlay earlier; council discussion characterized that prior approval as a mistake that should not, retroactively, be made the basis to penalize the earlier applicant. Third, council and staff said a property manager or applicant has not yet submitted a final business description or business license application, which limits what staff can rule on now.

Property manager Jill was described in the discussion as proactive in recruiting tenants; staff said the vacant storefront in question had been empty for about three years and that relocation by an existing downtown salon to outside the overlay would return the district to compliance with the ordinance.

Next steps: the council agreed to revisit the distance requirements at a future work session so staff can consult records, confirm the existing permits, and meet with the prospective tenant and the property manager. Councilmember Carroll requested the item be scheduled for the next work session.

No formal vote was taken on this item.","The Hiram City Council discussed distance rules in the downtown historic store overlay district after a property manager and prospective salon owner raised compliance questions. Staff said a 500‑foot restriction applies, with limited variance options, and the council referred the matter for further review at a future work session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff propose switching short‑term disability and replacing long‑term disability with group accident plan to lower costs, increase early benefits

Old Town Hiram Business Association outlines marketing budget as council considers hotel‑motel excise distribution

Hiram staff propose comprehensive employee handbook rewrite; council asked for feedback by July 10

Hiram council reviews 500‑foot spacing rule for downtown historic overlay after salon inquiry