by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the July 10 workshop, the Monteagle Town Council heard from police officers who raised questions about their sick leave and health insurance benefits. The council also looked to questions related to a new ordinance addressing holidays for city employees.

The police officers requested the meeting with the council.

“We’d like to know if the sick leave policy can be amended,” said officer Jack Hill.

“It takes me three months to earn one sick day,” said officer David Streiby. “But we work more hours per week than other city employees, because we have 12 hour shifts. The policy is based on 8 hour shifts.”

Officer Colby Scissom, who opted out of the city health insurance plan, called attention to a clause in the benefits policy which stated, “if you opt out of health insurance the city may provide other benefits.”

“You don’t get something else if you turn down health insurance,” said alderman Ron Terrill.

“The policy says ‘may’ not ‘will’ provide other benefits,” noted city recorder Debbie Taylor.

“We need to fix this,” conceded Terrill.

“It takes an ordinance to amend a policy,” said Taylor.

The benefits policy was drafted in 2009 under a different administration.

Terrill proposed an annual review of city ordinances.

“We need to bring in city employees one department at a time and see what they need,” said alderman Ken Gipson. “If you find something else in the benefits policy, let us know and we’ll look at it,” he advised the officers.

In a discussion about police officers’ duties and frequent complaints about speeding, Gipson said the Monteagle Police only issued 12 speeding tickets in the month of June. Terrill expressed concerns about speeding on the road to the dump.

“Between DuBose Conference Center and the dump, the speed limit signs read 20 miles per hour going in one direction and 30 miles per hour going in the other direction,” noted officer Zack Fults.

Taking up revisions to the policy addressing holidays for city employees, the council selected 10 paid holidays.

“City employees will gain four holidays,” Gipson said, “for a total of 10, the same as the post office and banks.”

The council decided on the following paid holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

The council eliminated Martin Luther King Day and Presidents’ Day from the current list of holidays.

The proposed policy revision also stipulates employees who “must work on designated holidays will get double pay.”

The council will vote on the ordinance implementing the policy revisions at the regular meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, July 30.