Council approves revamped employee handbook, agrees to pay down firefighter benefit accruals

Franklin City Council on Jan. 22 approved Ordinance 24-11, repealing the previous handbook ordinance and adopting revisions to employee benefits, comp/leave language, and overtime/comp time procedures.

Clerk Treasurer Jan Jones and staff outlined several targeted changes: removal or clarification of limited-duty language and longevity-pay wording, updated comp-time/overtime handling tied to the Kronos time system, and clearer rules for police pay calculations (total compensation time and overtime thresholds above 171 hours). Staff explained the revisions had been circulated and recommended by the steering committee that reviewed the handbook starting Jan. 2024.

City staff reported a sizable accrued liability for comp and benefit time. As of Jan. 13, 2025 the city’s accrued comp/benefit liability totaled $666,052.95, of which $567,111.16 (about 85%) is owed to firefighters, staff said. The clerk treasurer’s office provided estimated individual payouts, with an average payment to firefighters of $11,573.70, a high of $31,136.40 and a low of $1,887.17. Staff proposed paying the excess accrued benefits to firefighters in full at the end of calendar year 2025 and then allowing firefighters to roll over up to 72 hours each year (matching police practice) going forward. The council also asked staff to draft a voluntary, citywide donation-bank policy to help employees facing catastrophic illness.

Todd (speaker 4) presented short-term disability and claims history to contextualize the proposal. Staff and council members said paying down the liability now would reduce the city’s unfunded obligation—an item staff flagged as material when the city considers bonding or credit applications.

Councilmember (speaker 3) moved to adopt the amended handbook; the motion was seconded. Clerk Treasurer Jan Jones conducted a roll-call vote: Ms. Price (yes), Mr. Shuck (yes), Mr. Taylor (yes), Mr. Austin (aye), Ms. McGuinness (yes), Mr. Prime (yes). The motion carried and Ordinance 24-11 was approved.

Council directed staff to proceed with the planned one-time payments at the end of 2025 and to return with any administrative details needed to implement the rollover and the donation-bank policy.