City Council - Ordinance Committee

Ordinance Committee Minutes February 21, 2023 Members present: Councilor Derby, Councilor Peake, Councilor Riley Members absent: Also in Attendance: Emily Russo, Pasqualina Azzarello, Councilor Gomez, Nicole LaChapelle, Jamie Webb, Jeff Bagg, Jesse Belcher-Timme, Michael Slater The meeting was called to order by Councilor Derby at 6:00 pm. 1. Public Speak Time: 2. Approval of the January 24th, 2023, meeting notes: Councilor Peake made a motion to approve; Councilor Riley seconded. Vote: 3-0 Approved. 3. Continuing Business: Amendments to the City Ordinances, Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 • The veteran’s agent contract w/ another community is being dissolved; the City is suggesting making a new 25-hour position. Director Slater gave an overview of programming, workload, and processes that required a sole agent in Easthampton beyond 16 hours. Councilor Peake made a motion, and Councilor Riley Seconded. Vote: 3-0 approved to add a Veteran’s agent position to Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 at Pay Grade F. • Planner Bagg gave an overview and justification for amending the position of Assistant Planner to Senior Planner at Grade E. Councilor Riley made a motion, and Councilor Peake Seconded. Vote: 3-0 approved to amend Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 to add the following positions, an Arts and Cultural Program Director position with a Pay Grade of E, an Associate Planner with a Pay Grade of D, and to add a Director of Planning and Community Development with a Pay Grade of G. Also, to amend Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 to change the title of Assistant Planner to Senior Planner with a Pay Grade of E and move the Planner Pay Grade from G to F. • Human Resources Director Emily Russo gave an overview of positions that are being removed from the city for various reasons, including duties sufficiently covered by other positions already in existence, positions becoming obsolete, and positions that have become unionized. Councilor Peake made a motion, and Councilor Riley Seconded. Vote: 3-0 approved that Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 be amended by removing the following positions, Receptionist, General Clerical, Dispatcher, Dispatch Supervisor, and Water / Sewer Utilities Clerk. • Human Resources Director Emily Russo discussed changing pay grade structures for various positions in the city to ensure that director and department head positions remain competitive. Councilor Peake made a motion, and Councilor Riley Seconded. Vote: 3-0 approved that Chapter 7, Sec. 7-17 be amended to move the following positions to new Pay  Grades of G, Council on Aging Director, City Clerk, Principal Assessor, and Executive Assistant to the Mayor. Amendments to the City Ordinances, Chapter 7-Sec. 7-18 • Human Resources Director Emily Russo gave an overview and justification for changing the 12-step pay plan to remove the first 4 steps and add 4 new steps at the top of the pay plan as well as a 3% increase per step to keep recruitment competitive versus the current 2.5% we currently have in place. January step increases will be removed and changed to July 1st to align with the city budget for efficiency. Councilor Peake made a motion, and Councilor Riley seconded. Vote: 3-0 approved that Chapter 7 Sec. 7-18 be amended for a new pay scale removing the first 4 steps and adding 4 steps new steps to the end. Also, the 2.5% step increase should be increased to 3%, and amending the step increase date from January 1st to July 1st. 4. Other: Next regular meeting: March 7th at 6:00 PM. Councilor Peake made a motion to adjourn, and Councilor Riley seconded. Vote: 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Councilor Brad Riley Clerk to the Ordinance Committee