Martinsville park board adopts emergency care leave for park staff, shifts approval to board

The Martinsville City park board voted Feb. 10 to adopt a citywide emergency care leave policy for park and pool employees, inserting one local change that requires approval of banked emergency care leave by the park board instead of the mayor.

Ashley, a member of the parks staff who presented the item, told the board the park handbook “does not have a short term disability plan and emergency care leave plan,” and provided the city template for the board to consider. Michael Pratt moved to adopt the city policy “with the exception of the line that says use of banked emergency care leave must be approved in advance by the mayor, changing that line to use of the banked emergency care leave must be approved in advance by the park board.” Rachel Tuttle seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote.

Board members did not request additional changes to the policy language during the meeting; Michael Pratt asked staff to prepare a written copy of the amendment for the handbook. The transcript records the motion and the second and a unanimous “Aye” on voice vote. The board did not read a roll-call vote in the record.

The change extends the city's emergency care framework to seasonal and pool employees who had not previously been covered in the parks handbook. The staff presentation noted the handbook update is intended to create a short-term disability and emergency leave option for park employees; the board asked staff to draft the updated handbook language for formal insertion following the vote.

The park board adjourned after routine business. The next board meeting is scheduled for March 10 at 6 p.m.