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The work share program through the short term compensation CARES Act aims to help support workers during the pandemic. The city plans to pursue entering into the program to help pay city staff and save money to use for possible revenue shortfalls. (File photo)
lessThe work share program through the short term compensation CARES Act aims to help support workers during the pandemic. The city plans to pursue entering into the program to help pay city staff and save money
... more
The work share program through the short term compensation CARES Act aims to help support workers during the pandemic. The city plans to pursue entering into the program to help pay city staff and save money to use for possible revenue shortfalls. (File photo)
lessThe work share program through the short term compensation CARES Act aims to help support workers during the pandemic. The city plans to pursue entering into the program to help pay city staff and save money
... moreMANISTEE — The city of Manistee may have a way to save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and also provide staff with more money in their pockets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thad Taylor, Manistee city manager, presented the option to join a program that would help city staff to Manistee City Council during its work session Tuesday evening and said it is something the city plans to pursue.
“It’s a true win-win for everybody,” Taylor said. “The city could very, very roughly save between $100,000 and $200,000 and in effect, without violating any laws, the employees will get more than they normally would for the work.”
He said he did not see any negatives in joining the federal work share program which is through the short term compensation CARES Act.
“It was passed by the federal government and funded to help support workers during this pandemic,” Taylor explained. “Employees work hours are reduced, and technically they’re placed on a furlough and it would be very similar to what we’re doing right now with what we call a sustainability schedule.”
The city reported last month that it had started the sustainability schedule to help limit staff’s potential exposure, while splitting up shifts and timing when staff would work different hours from usual.
“We have different schedules in different departments and employees are working reduced hours but the city pays them as working their regular number of hours,” Taylor said to council.
He said the Manistee Department of Public Works (DPW) would be functioning six days each week while staff worked 30-hour weeks.
Taylor used DPW staff as an example.
“If their work hours were reduced by 25%, they are eligible to file for unemployment to make up that difference,” Taylor said. “And in addition, for every week that they’re on this furlough and reduced work hours, they get a $600 check basically from the federal government.”
He said this would not adversely impact or penalize the city and emphasized that the move is likely to save the city money at a time when it most needs financial help to address revenue shortfalls during revenue uncertainties from the pandemic in the next two years.
“We’re looking at implementing that maybe as early as next week (for) certain employee groups,” Taylor said.
He said the program is available until August.
Council member Mick Szymanski commended the plan to join the work share program.
Council member Lynda Beaton voiced concern over allowing DPW and other staff to reduce the number of hours they work citing the need to continue to keep the city looking its best, “as spiffy as possible” and maintain its curb appeal.
“I don’t want to pose a hardship on the DPW, but if the public is aware they’re getting this extra $600 a week for not working and the city is not looking its best — we’re going to have some problems,” Beaton said.
Jeff Mikula, DPW director, said one thing to note with the pandemic and new sustainability schedule is that while some tasks like the cleaning of city bathroom facilities are not needed at the moment as they are closed, staff has seen significant increases in other areas while more residents are staying home and cleaning their yards.
In an email to the News Advocate, he explained that the DPW collects and chips residential brush each Friday. In that pickup process, residents are required to call to schedule the pickup by dialing (231) 723-7132.
"We compile a weekly list, then compile a route for the employees to follow. When the list gets long, we may begin the process early, or add additional days the following week," he explained. "Demand has been very high the past couple weeks. Normally the list is two to three pages long. This week, we compiled six pages by Tuesday."
He told council that everything is evolving day to day and week to week while the staff continue to keep up and manage it all.
“We’re assessing all of our work tasks and we’re trying to prioritize them to do what we can do. … But I will say that any time you reduce staff hours, at some point it reduces the services that we can provide,” he said at the meeting.
Council member Jermaine Cipcic stated that while curb appeal and other aspects of the city's presence are important, there are bigger issues to prioritize at the moment with the pandemic. She was in favor of joining the federal work share program.
“I think it’s a great idea if they can shorten their hours and they can get paid (through) somewhere else. I think we need to save every penny that we possibly can because we don’t know what the rules are going to be for June, July, August,” Cipcic said. “We might be completely (in a) stay at home again in June or July. … I think it’s a good idea and I think you need to move forward with it.”
No formal action was taken on the measure. During a work session council can not take action to approve measures.
As there are no agenda items available, the typical city council meeting for Tuesday is canceled. The next city council meeting is set for 7 p.m. June 2.
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