HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-28-2023 THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF
THE ( It Y OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met at 5:00 P.M., in Ithe
Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 50 North 5'1' Street, Richmond, Indiana.
CALL TO ORDER
President Robinson called the meeting to order and the following business was conducted:
ROLL CALL
Board members present were: Vicki Robinson, Emily Palmer and Matt Evans,
Also in attendance were Kim Vessels, Assistant City Attorney; A.J. Sickmann,Corporate Cotcil;
Monica Burns, Deputy City Clerk; Lieutenant Kevin Smith; Cedric James, Code Enforcem nt;
Greg Stiens, Director of Public Works and Engineering; Sharry Hemmingway, Payroll Benefits
Administrator; Kyle Shipley, Payroll Benefits Specialist; 1mM Murphy, Human Reso—ce
Director; Detective Scott Glover, FOP Union Representative; Lieutenant Matt Smith; Counc lor
Ronald Oler; Alfredo Diamond; Claudia Edwards; Several Police Officers were in attenda ce;
and Media.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Palmer moved to approve the minutes of September 21, 2023, supported by Mr. Evans. Upon
a vote viva voce, the motion carried.
CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
Mr. Evans moved to approve the Claims for Payment for September 29, 2023 in the amoun-. of
Four Hundred Sixty Two Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Two Dollars and twenty four ccints
($462,372.24), supported by Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the motion carried.
PAYROLL CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
Mr. Evans moved to approve a Payroll Claims for Payment correction for September 26, 023 in the
amount of One Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Six Dollars and eighty cents ($1,826.80), st pported by
Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the motion carried.
PAYROLL CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT FOR PENSION
Mr. Evans moved to approve the Payroll Claims .for Payment for Pension for September 29, 2023 in the
amount of Six. Hundred Sixty '.Iwo Trhousand Eight Hundred Sixty Seven Dollars and tWelve cents,
supported by Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the motion carried.
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Board of Works Minutes
September 28, 2'023
REQUESTS
• NEW HANDICAP SIGN
305 South 7'1' Street
Ms. Palmer moved to approve, supported by Mr. Evans. Upon a vote viva voce, the mot.on
carried.
• STREET CLOSURE
Ed DeLaPaz with Octoberfest/Depot District Committee
Date: September 30, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. .—6:00 p.m.
The request is for the closure of the parking lot at the intersection of North 811" Street nd
North "D" Street. Additionally they are requesting permission to use the parking spa es
lc
and grassy area to the east of the parking lot as a possible overflow area for cars. This
would affect 9 parking spots in the lot and an additional 4 spots from the additional par:T.1.
1
Mr. Evans moved to approve, supported by Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the moon
carried.
BID OPENINGS - None
BID AWARDS - None
CONTRACTS
• CONTRACT NO. 160-2023 —MIKESELL EXCAVATING, INC.
The City retains Contractor to perform services in connection with the demolition of the hOuse
at 101 Lincoln Street that was previously deemed by the Richmond Unsafe Builing
Commission to be an unsafe property. Services include demolition, removal of debris, and
restoration of the site.
Not to exceed $1.2,100.00
Ms. Palmer moved to approve, supported by Mr. Evans. Upon a vote viva voce, the mo ion
carried.
CONTRACT NO. 161-2023 — REDDOG ENTERPRISES INC.
The City retains Contractor to provide services in connection with the emergency cleanup
of 128 Richmond Avenue.
Not to exceed$1,200.00
Board of Works Minutes
September 28, 2'023
Mr. Evans moved to approve, supported by Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the tnot on
carried.
CHANGE ORDERS
• CHANGE ORDER NO. l TO CONTRACT NO. 121-2023
This is for the milling and paving sections of North "D" Street from North 8`11 Street to Ft.
Wayne Avenue, North 8'1' Street from North "D" Street to North "C" Street.
Not to exceed $39,649.50
Ms, Palmer moved to approve, supported by Mr. Evans. Upon a vote viva voce, the mo'on
carried.
ADDENDUMS - None
RESOLUTIONS - None
PETITIONS
• CURB CUTS
1.600 Rich Road.
Mr. Evans moved to approve, supported by Ms. Palmer. Upon a vote viva voce, the moon
carried.
President Robinson announce that there would be a ten minute recess before the Grievance
Hearing
MISCELLANEOUS
• GRIEVANCE HEARING
John Hennigar Lodge No. 63 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) — Grievance 1-2023
President Robinson reconvened the meeting with two regular Board members and an.
alternate to hear Grievance No. 1-2023 for John Hennigar Lodge No. 63 Fraternal 0 der
i of Police (FOP). This grievance is for the meaning, interpretation or application of the .FOP
Bargaining Agreement and the process of the Insurance Committee. All participating
individuals that were to speak were sworn in by the Deputy Clerk. Ms. Robinson then ent
over the procedure of how the proceedings were to be conducted.
Lieutenant Matt Smith, Chairman of the Negotiating Committee for the FOP spoke on
behalf of the FOP stance on why the grievance was brought to the Board. He explained
Board of Works Minutes
September 28, 2023
that he had sent an email earlier in the day to have the grievance stricken from the agenda
but was prepared to present it to the Board. The Board decided to proceed.
Lieutenant Smith explained to the Board that Detective Scott Glover, the FOP
representative on the Insurance Committee, brought to the negotiating committee potei tial
,,,
benefit changes to the insurance. It was the understanding of the Committee that there ere
four options presented with one of them being an 8.3%increase in order to keep the exising
plan. It was voted on that they were willing to pay that amount in order to keep what t ey
had. The other options had formulary changes in medications that would lower premiu ns.
Sh.arry Hemingway, Payroll Benefits Administrator, was notified of the vote that was ta en
for the 8.3% only by email.
Shortly after Detective Glover received an email by Ms. Hemmingway and attorney ,k.J.
Sickmann that the City was going to pick the formulary change and the lower increas, in.
premiums. Lieutenant Smith also told the Board that ASFME and the Firefighters U lon
also had voted for the 8.3% increase. He explained that the grievance is because the city
is decreasing their benefits and with the formulary change of medications that could hve
a negative effect on 78 employees throughout the City. The City told the Committee ' as
more of an advisory position and had no voting rights. It was asked if this was true, hy
they were asked to have the members vote on it.
Corporate Council A.J. Sickman.n told the Board that the City recognizes that the Po ice
officers have a hard job and the City appreciates what they do. He gave to the Board sev ral
documents for their review. Among them was the FOP Contract.
Sharry 11..emmingway, Payroll Benefits Administrator for the City at this time addressed
the Board. She explained that the City offers insurance to full time employees and sOme
spouses as well as retirees and their spouses until they reach the age of 65. She explained
that with the rising cost of insurance and medical cost the City has to find ways to cut cost.
The City is self-insured meaning that the City pays the claims not an insurance company
and the money just isn't there for what the Union wants. After The City met with Hoiran
and Optimus they sent the information to the Unions just to get feedback to see how the
employees felt about it. The City has chosen to go with the plan with the formulary chai ge
l
in medication and the higher deductibles for the cost savings to the City and the prend ms
that will have to be paid by the employees.
A.J Sickman.n, Corporate Attorney, told the Board that there were was a section in the FM'
contract that says "The City agrees that any funds moved out of the Health Insurance Find
i
must come to the committee for a majority vote. The vote of the Health insun, ce
Committee will be used as a recommending tool to the City Council."There was no mo ey
moved out of the fund so this does not apply. Another portion of the contract that might be
misconstrued in this instance is "At the time the City Healthcare committee agree' to
decrease the benefits, the Bargaining Committee agrees to call meeting of the Bargai. ing
Unit and present the recommendation of the City healthcare Committee to the member of
the Bargaining Unit for a vote." The Board is in an advisory capacity in this matter. When
this was told to the FOP they decided at the last minute to strike the grievance from the
agenda. Because of the late request it was decided that it still needed to be presented to the
Board of Works Minutes
September 28,2023
Board. Siekmann also told the Board that benefits were not being decreased but cost liiad
to be managed because of the rising cost of insurance healthcare that is a problem for
everyone. It is the job of the City to navigate all of the options available to them to rrOke
the premiums affordable as possible to the employees without it too much more of a burden
to them than necessary. Fie also said that it felt that it really wasn't fair for the I. {.. to
dictate that even the nonunion members to be stuck with an increase of 8.3% because that
hat
is what the Union wanted. It was his recommendation that the Board deny the griev.a.n. e.
Lieutenant Smith made a rebuttal stating that Ms. ;Flemmingway did receive an erriail
stating that they did vote for option l because they were also understanding that wa , an.
option even though the City says it was not. lie also said that he didn't feel like it was 'air
for Employees that are on certain medications that they have been on for years to hay; to
change to something that might not work causing them to jump through hoops in orde. to
get back on the medication that they need. Fie urged the Board to take their 30 days to t•ke
this matter under advisement before they made their decision.
Mr. Sickmann told the Board that the 8.3% was not relevant. ',there is no reductio4 in.
benefits and there is no facts to substantiate that a change to a less expensive medic4ion
for someone will not work. If not there are procedures in place that can be done to be '•ble
to get back on the medication they were on before.
Finding, combined with this matter as follows: Mr. Evans made a motion based on the
provisions of the Bargaining Agreement of the Fraternal Order of Police states the city
shall carry basic medical and major medical coverage with levels comparable to the
existing coverage and if they are decreased needs to be brought to the Insurance Committee
to a vote and didn't feel the formulary fits that criteria of a basic or major medical coverage
decrease so he moved to deny Grievance 1-2023, supported by Mr. Diamond. Upon a \ote
viva voce, the motion carried.After a motion was duly made, the meeting was adjourned. P.,
r ..../.;/17,i
—±.
Vicki Robinson, President
ATTEST: 9-22 45,--::: ,,,i'"-,,,,..,.'!...,ez-
Monica Burns, Deputy City Clerk
A recording of this meeting is on file in the Office of the City Clerk.