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Committee advances ordinance to recognize unused vacation hours for Hendersonville fire chief
Summary
The Finance Committee voted to advance an ordinance to amend the budget to recognize and reserve funds for up to 349 hours of unused vacation accrued by Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush; staff said the liability is already recorded but requires appropriation.
The Hendersonville Finance Committee voted Aug. 26 to send to later meetings an ordinance amending the city's budget ordinance to recognize and compensate Fire Chief Scotty Bush for certain vacation carryover hours that exceed the usual maximum.
Alderman Mark Evans, the ordinance sponsor, told the committee the measure responds to an accrual of 349 hours that carried into 2025 and that the city has precedent for recognizing similar carryovers. "Chief Bush has been a long tenured employee, almost 39 years as an employee," Evans said, and he asked the committee to advance the ordinance so the liability is properly documented and appropriated.
Why it matters: Staff said accrued liabilities for vacation and sick leave are reported in the city's audit but are not necessarily appropriated for payout until funds are reserved. Jason Gallo, administrative services director, explained that the balance for accrued leave is reflected in the city's liabilities but the specific appropriation must be made before funds are paid.
Key details from the discussion: Committee members reviewed how the city handles carryover and accruals. Gallo said the general rule is that employees may carry over what they accrue within one year; excess requires approval and, if not used by March 31 of the following year, is forfeited or rolled into sick leave under recent adjustments. Gallo told the committee the city reports all accrued leave each year and that the 349 hours for Chief Bush are included in the accrued liability figures; the issue now is appropriating funds to cover the liability when it becomes payable.
Numbers discussed: Aldermen referenced a dollar figure of roughly $24,473 in the discussion and mentioned an additional shortfall of about $13,000; the transcript records those numbers in committee remarks but does not present a finalized single total in the ordinance language on file. The transcript makes clear the 349 hours figure; the finalized dollar amount to be budgeted and exact appropriation schedule were discussed as staff items to be reflected in the ordinance and staff report.
Schedule and action: Evans asked that the ordinance be presented for first reading at the second September meeting (the sponsor plans to be on vacation during the first September meeting) with the second reading in early October. The committee voted to forward the ordinance; the motion passed on a voice vote in committee.
Speakers on this item included Alderman Mark Evans; Jason Gallo, administrative services director; Mayor Jamie Cleary; and Chief Scotty Bush was referenced by name as the affected employee.
