12-08-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 8, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 23 of 26 (23. FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS, Continued) Bremer stated this has been done before in Orono but that it is a philosophical question. Bremer stated in her view Orono should be competitive and that they should compensate these individuals for who they are and what they bring to this role. Cornick stated everyone knows that insurance companies raise their premiums periodically, and asked what it would cost in 2016. Cornick asked whether the City can limit it in some respect in the future since that is kind of an unknown area going into the future. McMillan stated medical care has become expensive and that the City-paid premium part has increased over the years. McMillan stated that has been a good effort on the part of the City and that maybe that in itself is a good enough effort. Printup stated he is not comfortable or able to make a decision tonight when they are talking about $20,000 for compensation adjustments for two individuals and $15,000 for the amendments. Levang moved to table Item No. 23, amendment to employment agreements, to the February City Council work session. McMillan stated in her view the City Council can discuss this at a future work session and that it does not necessarily need to be discussed in February. Mattick stated given the nature of the request, it would be preferable to have a set date for when it will be discussed again so it will not be so staff driven. Levang indicated she would prefer to discuss it at a work session. Printup stated he would prefer to discuss it during the budget talks for 2016 and that in his view the amendment has come too late this year. Levang indicated she would prefer to discuss it at a work session, and asked when the budget discussions typically start. Olson stated they typically start in late May, early June. Printup stated he does not want to give a false impression that the City Council is going to talk about this and make a decision in February. Bremer stated if the City Council is looking for cost of insurance and other variables, Staff should be directed to obtain that information. Levang stated she wants to be respectful to the City Administrator Loftus and Police Chief Farniok about not pushing this out too indefinitely. Levang indicated she would prefer that it put it on the February work session agenda and that the City Council can determine where they go from there. Levang stated in the mean time the City Council could ask the City Administrator for additional information. Levang stated the chart that was provided was helpful and the City Council could review that again.