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Earlham HR Committee seeks clearer comp-time rules, asks to be notified about hires and ends police cell stipend in FY27
Summary
Committee members said the employee handbook should better define comp-time usage and Police Department exemptions; they requested prior notice on hires and agreed employees issued a city phone will not receive a cell phone stipend, with the Police Department losing the stipend starting in FY27 after two city phones are purchased.
The Human Resources Committee reviewed several personnel-policy items at its May 18 meeting, focusing on comp time rules, the hiring notification process and the city’s cell phone stipend.
Clerk Visser told the committee that the employee handbook does not clearly state how or when comp time may be used. Committee members said the handbook should specifically address the Police Department’s exemptions so expectations are consistent across departments.
On hiring, Clerk Visser asked whether the committee wanted to be informed of new hires before Council approval or whether hiring matters should be handled directly by the full Council. Committee members said they prefer to remain informed of hiring activity either by discussing positions at a Council meeting prior to approval or by reviewing needs in a committee meeting before a final hiring decision.
The committee also reviewed the cell phone stipend policy to ensure consistent application. Members agreed that an employee issued a city phone would not also receive the cell phone stipend. As a result, with the purchase of two new city phones, the Police Department will no longer receive the cell phone stipend beginning in fiscal year 2027 (FY27). The minutes record that this change is effective beginning FY27, but they do not provide a dollar amount for the stipend or additional implementation details.
The committee did not enact policy changes at the meeting; members discussed and agreed on recommendations and clarifications that will be forwarded to the City Council for any formal adoption or amendments.
