Sanitary board adopts amendment to extended sick policy, effective Jan. 1, 2026

The Board of Sanitary Commissioners on Dec. 10 approved Resolution 2025-17 amending the district’s personnel policy on extended sick leave, a change the board said will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The measure stops future accrual of extended sick time and clarifies payout options for existing balances.

Board President (unnamed in the transcript) described the amendment as largely a legal clarification, saying: "So as discussed and sent out in a memo to all Santeria District employees, this is how, basically, we're gonna change the extended sick policy starting January 1, 2026. ... Literally, nothing changed. Just our attorney legaled it up for us." The president explained the options for employees: a 60% lump-sum payout; or a 20% payout each year over five years; or placement of the funds into a district HSA up to the maximum IRS-allowed contribution.

The resolution also authorizes deleting Section 4.4 of the handbook and replacing it with the new language described in the memo. The board moved and seconded the motion to adopt the resolution; the president called for the vote and recorded one opposing vote, identifying Commissioner Overton as opposed. The transcript did not record a full roll-call tally by name for every member.

At the same meeting the board approved the register of claims totaling $1,610,146.09 and announced it has retained an executive search firm to begin seeking a new district administrator. The president also thanked staff for participation in a route study intended to inform asset-management decisions. The board adjourned following routine business.

The resolution’s effective date, as stated by the board, is Jan. 1, 2026. The transcript does not specify whether the board assigned any additional implementation tasks or reporting deadlines beyond the handbook language.