Baltimore Village rules committee authorizes time-and-a-half pay for crews during declared Level 3 emergencies

Baltimore Village’s rules committee voted on Feb. 9 to authorize paying service crews time-and-a-half for work performed during declared Level 3 emergencies, after members and staff said the village’s employee handbook did not clearly address pay for crews who work when the office is closed.

Committee members discussed a recent winter storm during which the office was closed but street and service crews came in to clear roads and respond to breaks. Committee discussion, led by a member who moved the action, centered on whether employees who reported for essential duties while others remained home should receive overtime rather than straight pay or comp time. One committee member said Tim’s crew and “Matt” had formally requested approval for time-and-a-half.

Members agreed to authorize immediate overtime pay for affected crews and to draft handbook language to clarify the policy and limit it to declared Level 3 emergencies (and, by motion language, to other declared disasters if the committee chooses). The committee chair said the handbook amendment will be drafted and returned to counsel for review before final inclusion.

The committee’s action was procedural at the committee level: it authorizes paying crews now and directs staff to produce formal handbook language and legal review. The roll call recorded multiple affirmative votes in committee.

Next steps include drafting the handbook amendment, referral to the village solicitor for review, and a future council action to incorporate the change into the employee handbook.