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Committee recommends ending Cintas uniform rental contract, asks staff for pay-comparables on replacement allowance
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Summary
The Finance and Human Resource Committee voted to recommend that the board not renew the village's Cintas uniform rental contract and asked staff to return with comparables from neighboring jurisdictions and a transition plan for a proposed clothing allowance.
The Finance and Human Resource Committee voted to recommend that the village not renew its three‑year uniform rental agreement with Cintas, which is due to expire Aug. 31. The committee approved the recommendation after a motion "to no longer move forward with a Cintas renewal" was made and seconded; members voted in the affirmative.
Committee discussion centered on whether canceling the rental service and replacing it with a clothing allowance would save money, how to handle laundering and lost-item charges previously managed by the contractor, and the effect on employee morale. An unidentified staff presenter said the contract primarily covered pants and work bottoms for public works, parks and building inspections and that tops, branded T‑shirts and safety equipment are budgeted separately. The presenter noted that in 2025 the village spent about $1,300 of the $4,500 clothing/top budget line and estimated the rental breakdown at roughly $300 per eligible full‑time employee.
Several members warned about the short-term cost of transitioning employees from a weekly rental/cleaning cycle to an allowance system and discussed options such as a one‑year higher allowance for new hires and caps tied to fund allocation (general fund vs. utility funds). One member recommended keeping the current $300 reimbursement until actual usage supports an increase; another argued a $600 annual cap would be reasonable for new hires to outfit themselves in the first year.
The committee also voted to direct staff to return at the next meeting with comparables from neighboring jurisdictions about public‑works uniform allowances and a proposed transition plan if the board approves ending the contract. The committee set a timeline to have that information ahead of the contract expiration so the board can consider implementation choices (e.g., phased increases, reimbursement rules for damaged clothing, or on‑site laundry options). The committee scheduled the follow‑up for its March 16 meeting.
The motion to recommend against renewal of the Cintas contract passed; the committee did not set a final allowance amount but specifically requested comparative data and a transition recommendation.
