Reprint from the Progress Times - April 11, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Alton council approves tweaks in personnel policies

 

By Kathy Olivarez

The Alton City Council approved the changes in their personnel policy as presented by City Manager Jorge Arcaute in their Tuesday, April 8, meeting. Areas of concern were probation periods, travel documentation, employee leave and compensatory time.

The policy states that all employees shall serve a three-month probationary period, while the appropriate department head evaluates the employee’s performance. At the end of the three months the employee may be terminated or may have his probationary contract extended for an additional three months.

Reimbursement for travel for employee’s using their personal vehicles was set at $0.43 per mile or the prevailing IRS rate, whichever is lower. A per diem allowance of no more than $60 per day shall be authorized for business travel over a 60-mile distance. Members of the Council are eligible to receive $25 per half-day on travel to, travel from and conduct of city business which occurs outside a 60-mile radius from the city.

If airfare is necessary, it shall be at a commercial-class airfare rate. If airfare is lower than the cost of driving the employee’s personal vehicle, the employee has the choice of travel methods. Written requests for travel expenses must be submitted prior to travel. Documentation of expenditures must be provided prior to reimbursement.

The Mayor will receive a monthly allowance of $300 a month to cover use of personal vehicle, cellular phones, meals and tips. City Councilmen receive $150.

Employees are entitled to no more than 14 working days off for military leave; bereavement leave for those who have lost an immediate family member is three days.

Maternity leave varies according to the needs of the employee.

Employees required to serve on a petit or grand jury will be granted paid leave for their service.

Employees earn one day of vacation for a full one-month employment period, up to a maximum of 18 working days in any given year. The City Manager may grant a temporary waiver of up to six months on this requirement if the employee’s workload requires his continued attendance to a particular project. Supervisors must approve dates for vacations.

No more than 15 consecutive days may be taken off at one time unless approved by the city manager.

Official holidays are New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The personnel packet also addressed other issues such as nepotism. By state law no person related within the second degree of marriage within the third degree by blood to the mayor or a councilman, shall be appointed to any municipally paid position.

In other action the council approved Nora Elia Martinez to preside as election judge for the May 10 election and early voting which started April 28 at city hall. Roxanne de Leon will serve as alternate.

After the meeting Arcaute explained to the Progress Times that a request had been made to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to add an additional 850 acres of unclaimed land to Alton’s sewer CCN. No action was taken on zoning matters or on the scheduled audit report for the city.