Personnel Committee Meeting

This past Friday, October 30, the Wellsville Council's Personnel Committee held a meeting at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Personnel Committte Chairman Randy Allmon and Committee members Rosie Goss & Tony Cataldo. Also present was Councilmen Don Brown & John McMahon, Village Administrator Jim Saracco, WFD Chief Bill Smith and Zoning Administrator Rick Williams.

The first order of business was to discuss the committee's recommendations to full council on what to do with the position soon to be open with the resignation tendered by regular, full-time Fireman Marty Thorn. However, Fire Chief Smith advised that according to Ohio Revised Code Thorn has until mid-night of the 31st to rescind that resignation. Further discussion was tabled until after that deadline passes.

The second item on the agenda was the question of using consulting firm J.F. Lencewicz & Associates to handle matters normally done by the administration and members of council. Lencewicz earlier revised and updated the police manual for the village. Since then he has been working on negotiating the pending union contract and handling the Lombardozzi grievance filed against the village. No one seems to know who authorized Lencewicz for this work and discussion on this aspect was put on hold until the Mayor returns from vacation.

Lencewicz bills the village $140 per hour plus .85 cents per mile & tolls. He recently invoiced the village for $5,273 for 37 hours plus travel expenses. Lombardozzi filed a grievance for $550/month that he claims he is losing in income since he and his family can no longer live in the village owned house at the cemetery. The AFSCME Local 1869 contract that covers five village employees expires at the end of the year.

In the pursuing conversation Councilwoman Rosie Goss questioned why the village is paying for negotiating the contract stating that it was getting out of hand. Tony Cataldo responded that he works for the administration and has a contract with the village. John McMahon said he thought he was brought in as an adviser and Jim Saracco stated that he thought Lencewicz was in full control.

Discussion continued on about the union with Cataldo stating he would like to see an ordinance passed to make all village employees equal. Except for a prescription plan for the union members everything else is. Cataldo said he was advised by Lencewicz that since Wellsville is not classified as a city the union does not have to be recognized. It is Council's wishes if they want to continue doing so. McMahon questioned if there had been any problems in past negotiating with the union and the answer was no. Goss stated handling both the grievance and the contract negotiations should both be handled in house. Cataldo stated the union asked to open the contract just for wages and everyone knows there is no money for wage increases. Lencewicz advised the committee earlier this year if the want to open the contract for wages then the whole contract is open to bargaining.

The committee decided to have Saracco advise Lencewicz that any additional work is being put on hold until committee members can review what they got. All members got copies of the current contract and copies of what Lencewicz has done so far. Another meeting was scheduled for next Monday. Since it is pertaining to contract negotiations the meeting will be in Executive Session.

Cataldo then advised the committee that he was going to get together with the Fiscal Officer to see if the village can afford a reduced holiday Christmas bonus of $200 for each village employee. A bigger bonus was discussed earlier but was nixed for lack of funds.

The regular council meeting has been moved to Wednesday, November 4, at 6 o'clock since next Tuesday is Election Day. Village Hall is used as one of the polling places in town.

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