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Helena council adopts Employee Handbook despite objections over holiday payout for public safety
Summary
The Helena City Council approved a revised Employee Handbook in a 4-1 vote May 20 after residents and some council members raised concerns about whether paying out three remaining public-safety holidays was budgeted; the mayor estimated roughly $60,000 to cover those payouts and said funds would be reallocated and details provided.
The Helena City Council voted 4-1 May 20 to adopt an updated Employee Handbook that includes language changing how some holidays are handled, a decision that prompted heated public comment from firefighters and questions from council members about unbudgeted costs.
Councilmember Andy Healy moved to approve the handbook, seconded by Dennis Wilson; the motion passed with Healy, Wilson, Council President Brooke Dodson and Jeff McDaniels voting yes and Cathy Hammann voting no. The council also voted to waive attorney-client privilege earlier in the meeting so the city attorney could address legal questions about the handbook.
The debate centered on whether remaining holidays in the fiscal year should be paid out or banked as time off for public-safety employees. "The majority of the Fire Department wants the time, not the money," resident Silas Lindsey told the council during public comment. A second resident, Silas Lindsey Sr., urged council members to "look at the full scope" for the Fire and Police departments.
Fire Chief Chris Miller addressed the council to affirm his support for department staff and to say he wanted to "take the liability off of the City." Police staffing remarks were made during public comment (the transcript lists a Police Chief speaking as "David Wood" though the meeting visitor list earlier names Police Chief Mike Wood), an inconsistency the record shows.
Mayor Rosener told the council he did not have precise dollar figures at hand but estimated that paying out the three remaining public-safety holidays would cost about $60,000 for this fiscal year and said the administration could shift funds from planned software updates to cover the amount. "We will find the funds, we will take care of our people," Rosener told the meeting.
Councilmember Cathy Hammann argued that under Ordinance 1030-2025, Section 6.16, votes involving approval of funds that were not previously budgeted should be delayed until the next meeting unless there is unanimous consent; she opposed moving forward without full costing. City Attorney Hayes noted the new Civil Service Act requires a handbook by June 1 and advised additional legal review, prompting a brief recess while the council considered next steps.
The mayor and council members said the handbook is a "live document" and can be revisited; they asked staff to gather precise payroll figures and to post the reviewed budget material online. The council adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
