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Montrose council signs on to employee assistance coverage, approves conditional uniform change and denies pumpkin pickup request
Summary
Council approved an employee assistance plan for three staffers, authorized pursuing a new uniform agreement contingent on the vendor absorbing a $1,300 termination fee, and rejected a request for city crews to pick up donated pumpkins for Celebrate Montrose.
At the Oct. 13 meeting the City of Montrose council approved three separate personnel and service items: an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) plan for three non‑union staff members, a conditional change to the public‑works uniform allowance pending union agreement and vendor concessions, and a rejection of a volunteer request to have city crews pick up donated pumpkins for Celebrate Montrose.
Staff presented EAP options from the health‑plan vendor (packet, page 66). Council discussed cost and coverage; the selected plan covers three staff members at an estimated $68.40 per year (per person or plan level noted in packet discussion) and council voted to approve the coverage by unanimous vote.
On uniforms, staff described dissatisfaction with the current vendor, Cintas, and presented a proposed alternative that could save the city roughly $578 per year. The current Cintas contract has an early termination fee of about $1,300; council approved a motion to pursue the new uniform arrangement on the condition that the new vendor waive the termination fee or the union agree to a phased approach, and to revisit the MOU in November after union coordination. The motion passed 5–0.
Celebrate Montrose asked that public‑works staff pick up 45 donated pumpkins from a donor (described in the packet). Several councilmembers objected to using city staff time and resources for a private group's pickup and cited precedent concerns; a motion to reject the request passed by majority vote and the city will not perform the pickup.
Staff will finalize EAP enrollment, continue negotiations on uniforms with the union and vendors, and notify Celebrate Montrose of the decision.
