Citizens interested in City Council Citizens interested in City Council
Date: 04/25/2011
| Renegotiating City Contracts |
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This issue is an important qualifier as to
if I am a good candidate for your vote because I think publicizing this is
important even though I think renegotiating is probably a smart idea.
It is important to publicize because I think there are many
residents that will think they are being cheated out of an opportunity to
reap the benefits of SB 5 if the council is not up front about the process
and the residents find out after the fact.
I think it is important to have that debate first then take the
vote.
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Tonight the city council voted to authorize the city manager to renegotiate all the collective bargaining agreements currently in effect. At least that is how I read it. This item had not been discussed in public prior to tonight. This is the kind of item I believe the council should publicize to city residents to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding and community backlash. I reproduce the resolution first and then the notes I prepared and presented to the council. If you don’t believe this is the kind of issue that deserves more information from the council prior to them making it law, then you and I disagree on priorities. I’d like your vote but perhaps one of the other candidate’s will be focused on the same things you believe are important and you should consider him. I believe strongly that publicizing this type of city business is council’s responsibility and I will be spending a lot of time trying to convince other council members of the benefits. |
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Text
of resolution as found within the City prepared agenda
quick look.
CITY
OF HUBER HEIGHTS
STATE
OF OHIO
RESOLUTION
NO. 2011-RAUTHORIZING
THE
CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
WITH
THE CITY’S LABOR UNIONS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS,
the City is currently under contract with various City employee labor unions;
WHEREAS,
certain labor unions have expressed interest to negotiate or renegotiate current
or expiring contracts.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Huber Heights, Ohio, that:
Section
1. The City Manager is authorized to negotiate or renegotiate with City employee
labor unions if a new contract may be beneficial to the City.
Section
2. The City Manager is further authorized to make contact with Union
representation to talk about new contract negotiations or renegotiations.
Section
3. This legislation is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary in
order to provide for the continued protection of the public peace, health,
safety and welfare and the continuation of labor contracts and positive labor
relations, this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
Council.
Passed
by Council on the ______ day of __________, 2011;
______
Yeas; ______ Nays.
AUTHENTICATION:
Clerk
of Council Date
Mayor Date
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These are my notes as I expected to present them to council: (Watch
to see how successful I was)
Good evening I’m Tom McMasters
Tonight I’m going to talk about agenda Item
C. Resolution authorizing the city
manager to enter into contract negotiations with the City’s labor unions, I
urge the council to conduct a detailed discussion that will allow city residents
an understanding of the details, purpose and expected results of these contract
negotiations.
Minimum details the council should express
during the public discussion include:
First - Concerning the current contracts
1. Please
declare each union and every corresponding contract this resolution covers.
2. Catalog - The current expiration date of
the covered contracts
3. The
council should let the public know if this resolution provides a time frame for
when negotiations must be completed and/or when new contracts will begin.
As currently written, what are the implications of the lack of time frame
restrictions in the resolution?
Secondly - Concerning the definition of
Beneficial to the City:
1. Does
the definition of Beneficial to the City include perceptional determinations
such as – City workers will be happier knowing they have a new 3 year
contract? A happier work force is
beneficial to the city.
2. Does
the definition of Beneficial to the City include the reduction of complications
such as – The new State law, commonly referred to as SB5, will significantly
change the atmosphere of upcoming negotiations, therefore if we can get new
contracts in place before this law becomes effective we can avoid these
complications? This is a benefit to
the city.
3. Does
the definition of Beneficial to the City include monetary benefit?
If so will the criteria for beneficial be judged strictly against the
current contract terms or will they also be required to take into consideration
the possible consequences of the new State law commonly referred to as SB5?
In both cases please declare the threshold monetary benefit the city
expects to receive before replacing the current contracts.
Last item concerning benefits.
Will meeting only perceptional or complication criteria be enough benefit
to the city to justify new contracts? That
is will a monetary benefit be a requirement?
Finally - Concerning the Declaration that this
resolution needs to be adopted tonight to ensure continued protection of the
public peace, health, safety and welfare:
1. Are
there budget problems that make meeting the payrolls of the current contracts
problematic?
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The council passed the resolution.
Information learned during the discussion was that there are 6 collective
bargaining organizations with contracts with the city.
2 contracts will expire this year. The
union representing the fire department is one
of the unions interested in renegotiating.
After the council meeting a couple council members talked
with me and told me more information is available in committee meetings.
Looking at previous committee meeting agendas I see only one closed to
the public administrative meeting that took place before the vote tonight.
I guess Tuesday we’ll find out
if my definition of public disclosure matches that of the voters of Huber
Heights
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