Personnel committee asks law director to draft holiday overtime rule for nonunion staff; council hears first reading on holiday-pay ordinance

At a Jan. 28 personnel and labor committee meeting reported to the full Tiffin City Council Feb. 2, Councilmember Ashley Decker said the committee considered a mayoral request (legislation 26-06) to add holiday overtime/pay options for nonunion staff. City Administrator Nick Dutra told the committee the change responds to inspection scheduling pressures in the engineering department and would give nonunion employees the choice of an alternate day off or time-and-a-half pay for holidays, aligning their treatment with current union contracts.

"The legislation would make it advantageous for employees to come in on the holiday by offering the employee an opportunity to either take another day off or get paid time and a half for working the holiday," Dutra said. He added that most departments could absorb the premium in current budgets but some line-item transfers may be needed.

Councilmember Hayes moved that the law director draft the holiday-overtime legislation; Councilmember Doherty seconded the motion, which passed in committee 3-0. Decker told the full council the matter could return to the council as proposed legislation. Separately, Councilmember Ashley Decker introduced Ordinance 26-13 (first reading) to amend the codified ordinances to provide holiday pay for all full-time city employees except those covered by collective bargaining agreements; the ordinance does not contain an emergency clause, so it would not take effect immediately if passed without further action.

Council members discussed whether the ordinance could be acted on under suspension so it would apply before an upcoming holiday; the Director of Law noted the lack of an emergency clause means it would not be effective right away. The council did not take final action on Ordinance 26-13 at the Feb. 2 meeting.