HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-02-1974 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
. CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, SERVING AS
A COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION OF THE
RICHMOND POWER & LIGHT PLANT, DECEMBER 2, 1974
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session
2 December 2, 1974, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the
3 Municipal Building in said City. Mr. Merchanthouse presided with the fol-
4 lowing members present: Messrs. Brown, Cornett, Elstro, Geier, Hilton,
5 Marino, Mills and Williams. Absent: None. The following business was had
6 to-wit:
III78 Mr. Geier moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, seconded by
9 Mr. Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
10
11 Mr.. Marino moved to approve the following bills , seconded by Mr. Mills and
12 on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
13
14 APPROVE THE FOLLOWING:
15 Bills in the amount of $ 203,375.08
16 Interest Coupons 281 .25
17 1 Payroll 66,590.62
18
19 PROGRESSIVE PAYMENTS:
20 Mechanical Construction $ 303,972.92
21 Electrostatic Precipitators 5,000.00
22
23 Irving Huffman, General Manager, presented the proposed 1975 budget.
24
25 Mr. Marino moved to approve the 1975 budget as submitted in the amount of
26 $13,276,674.00, seconded by Mr. Hilton and on a call of the roll the fol-
27 lowing was recorded: Ayes; Brown, Geier, Hilton, Marino, and Williams.
28 Noes; Cornett, Elstro, Mills, and Merchanthouse. The vote being five (5)
29 to four (4) in favor of passage.
30
31 Mr. Huffman reported on our coal supply stating we have fifty days supply on
32 hand. He said we have been receiving non union coal and still have some
33 coming in, however, we would rather not make these purchases because of the
34 price.
35
36 Mr. Greg Merchanthouse presented the following statement:
37
38 Over the past few months several questions have arisen regarding
39 the representation of Richmond Power & Light employees for collective
40 bargaining purposes.
41
42 The Council has studied these questions and the issues involved,
43 and we have reached these conclusions.
44
45 First, the Council does not recognize the result of an election
46 conducted last summer by the Indiana Department of Labor. The utility
47 was in no way a party to this election and consequently is not bound
48 in any way by the results. In addition, based on the information
49 available to us, we believe that the election was not validly authorized
50 by our Employees Association and therefore was simply not a valid
51 election for any purpose.
52
53 Second, the Employees Association has an agreement with the utility
54 which is effective until July 1 , 1975. Consequently, we feel bound to
55 continue to recognize the Employees Association as representative of
III 56 the Utility's employees at least until the present agreement expires.
57
58 However, the Council is not opposed to an election to determine
59 what organization, if any, should serve as the representative of the
60 utility's employees after June 30, 1975. Our concern is that the
61 election be conducted under rules and procedures which will safeguard
62 the interrests of all parties--not just the interests of whatever labor
63 organizations are involved, but also the interests of the utility and
64 and the interests of the employees. At this time, there are no statutory
65 procedures for the conduct of such elections at a municipal utility.
66
Light Plant Minutes
December 2, 1974
Page 2
1 However, it seems a virtual certainty that the Indiana General Assembly
2 will enact a public employee labor relations bill early next year. Such
3 a bill would provide procedures and safeguards to insure a free and
4 secret choice which are entirely lacking now.
5
6 Consequently, we believe any election should be deferred pending
7 legislative action. If the legislature enacts a public employee bargaining
8 bill then we believe it would be to the great advantage of all concerned
9 to utilize its procedures.
10
11 At the same time, we do not wish to delay an election indefinitely,
12 and if the legislature fails to enact a public employee lobor relations
13 act, then we sould attempt to work out by April 15, 1975 an agreement for
14 an election to be conducted prior to July 1 ,1975 an agreement for an
15 election to be conducted prior to July 1 , 1975, if that is still the
16 wish of the utility's employees.
17
18 Bruce W. Sumner, business manager of the IBEW Union, said they needed time
19 to go over this statement.
20
21 Mr. Merchanthouse asked Mr. Sumner to direct his questions or answers to
22 Mr. Burton or Mr. Huffman.
23
24 There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and passed ,
25 the meeting was adjourned.
26
27
28 Greg Merchanthouse
29 Chairman
30
31 ATTEST: Margaret Mellen
32 City Clerk
33