Council weighs standby pay, trainee on-call status and a proposal for shared parks/marina staff

Moore Haven, Fla. — City officials spent part of the July 31 budget workshop on personnel costs tied to standby and on-call pay and on a proposal to centralize maintenance duties for outdoor assets.

Ashley Wills, the city clerk, described current on-call pay rules: some employees receive a phone-only standby amount while others who are called out receive a two-hour minimum. "They get a 2-hour minimum every time they go out," Wills said, and noted a water plant trainee who performs occasional work receives only the two-hour minimum and has not yet been placed on-call because he has not passed a 90-day probationary period.

Councilmembers discussed whether trainees should receive partial standby pay before fully qualifying for on-call status. Public Works Superintendent Brad Simmons said the trainee would be placed on-call "if we are comfortable with him once he has passed his 90 days." Councilmember Alisha Beck pushed for revising standby rules, noting the current arrangement can "shut their whole weekend down" for those on call.

Vice Mayor Jacob Eighner proposed hiring a single employee dedicated to maintaining the marina, city park and ball fields to reduce ad hoc staffing pulls and better protect the city's investment in those facilities; Mayor Wayne Browning asked staff to draft a job description if the council pursues the idea.

No binding personnel decisions were made at the workshop; the discussion focused on direction to staff and possible changes to on-call compensation structures.