City inks new deal with Teamsters Union
The City of Columbia Falls and the Teamsters Union have reached a deal on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. The union represents most of the city’s public works employees, including sewage treatment plant operators and the water department.
Employees will get a 2 percent increase in grades and a 3 percent increase in steps. An entry-level employee would start out at $16.92 an hour this year. By 2021 that will rise to $17.95 an hour.
By 2021, an employee who is at the top step and grade would make $56.37 an hour.
The contract itself, other than the pay increases, didn’t see much change, city manager Susan Nicosia told council.
City health insurance reimbursements stayed the same, though the clothing allowance will go up from $825 in 2019 to $875 by 2021.
The contract also gives additional pay for certifications. Employees obtaining and maintaining certifications, licenses or endorsements, at the request of the city, above the required certifications in the adopted job description, will receive a stipend of $1,000 for year round responsibilities and $500 per year of seasonal responsibilities. The stipends will be paid on or about Sept. 1 with the clothing allowance. The city will recoup through a reduction of any payment due the employee a prorated amount of each stipend should an employee separate from the City within 12 months of the payment of a stipend.
In other news:
- The council approved extended hours at Marantette Park on July 20, as the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a movie night at the bandstand. They’ll be playing “The Greatest Showman” starting at 9:30 p.m. and the park usually closes at 10 p.m., but council extended it that one day until midnight to accommodate moviegoers.
- Council continued to review changes to the city’s municipal code. The latest section that was changed pertained to administration and personnel. The codes were brought into line with state law and one interesting note was that the mayor no longer has authority to hire special police, because the city has a city manager form of government. The city manager is the only one that can appoint special police.
- Mayor Don Barnhart wondered if the city had enough parks employees. The city has a robust park system now, but only two men to keep up with the grass mowing, spraying and other maintenance. Nicosia said the city is evaluating staffing levels as work begins on the next budget.