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Council OKs first reading to add fire chief to exempt-employee handbook language amid questions about mayoral discretion
Summary
Council voted to approve first reading of ordinance 20 26-11 to amend the employee handbook to include an additional chief as an exempt employee; members debated language giving the mayor discretion over leave and asked to remove an assistant-chief line that no longer exists.
Council members debated and approved the first reading of an ordinance (20 26-11) to amend the employee handbook so that certain chiefs are salary-exempt. Several councilors questioned a sentence that said benefits and leave were provided “at the discretion of the mayor,” arguing the wording could be clarified, and asked that a now-defunct assistant-chief line be removed from the handbook language prior to final adoption.
Councilman (speaker 7) described the exemption as meaning these roles are expected to be available beyond salaried hours: “They’re expected to work above and beyond your salaried hours,” he said, explaining why chiefs are treated differently in the handbook. Chief Zinkas (speaker 9) was asked if he had comments; the chief and councilors discussed whether the mayor’s discretion language should remain or be refined by ordinance before final vote. The council approved the first reading with a roll call and directed staff and legal counsel to refine the language for the second reading if needed.
