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Boonville adopts personnel manual after debate over comp time and police retention
Summary
After extended testimony from a Boonville police officer about staffing and benefits, the council adopted a personnel manual effective Nov. 1, 2025, amending the draft to leave comp-time-versus-overtime discretion with department heads and scheduling further review.
The Boonville City Council adopted a revised personnel manual on Oct. 20, 2025, after focused public comment and discussion by council members and staff. The ordinance was read for second reading and then approved as amended; the manual is scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, 2025.
Clinton Barger, a Boonville police officer and K-9 handler who said he has 12 years of law-enforcement experience and eight years with the city, testified during public comment and urged changes to recruitment and retention policies. "The personnel manual has a lot of good in it... but I do not feel that these things alone are big enough offset to stop the tidal wave of short staffing and crime that is going to come for this city," Barger said. He criticized recruitment gaps, lack of sign-on and retention bonuses, and the absence of shift differentials and other compensation used by comparable agencies.
Council discussion centered on several provisions: whether comp time should be the default in lieu of overtime pay, additional vacation accrual for newer employees, and aligning holiday observances. Staff reported results from an internal survey of department employees: 23 responses out of 28 available positions, with a plurality asking for the option to choose comp time or overtime. Councilmembers debated whether to keep the choice for employees or to vest discretion in department heads.
A council member moved to adopt the manual with the amendment preserving department-head discretion over comp time versus overtime; the amendment passed on roll call and the council then approved the personnel manual as amended. City staff will enter the manual into the new timeclock system and adjust accruals; Human Resources was assigned follow-up tasks and will report back on implementation timing.
The council also scheduled a note on the calendar to revisit the manual in future meetings. The ordinance referenced in the discussion amends the Boonville code (section 2-3-5) to adopt the new personnel manual.
