1
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,000
Our

2
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:34,520
Father in heaven, be thy name. Thres

3
00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:51,360
for those who tresass against us. Lead
us not into

4
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:54,360
us from evil. Th kingdom power.
Amen.

5
00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:04,040
For which stands one nation.

6
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:19,680
This chair is hard. Madam follow.
>> Miss Miller here.

7
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,599
Dr. Miller,
>> Mr. St. Clia,

8
00:02:20,879 --> 00:02:23,440
» present,
>> Mr. Msina

9
00:02:22,959 --> 00:02:24,800
» present,
>> Mr. Ethley

10
00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,400
» here,
>> Miss Davis

11
00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,959
» here,
>> five present.

12
00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:34,879
» Thank you. So, we do have a quorum
with five members present today. Um,

13
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:40,319
being that this is a special call
meeting. Uh this is as we all know in

14
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:44,160
part uh as it pertains to recent changes
with the police department schedule um

15
00:02:42,239 --> 00:02:49,599
and the updates that have happened. You
only have one um handout in front of you

16
00:02:46,879 --> 00:02:55,760
outside of the agenda. That is a handout
of over an overtime report that contains

17
00:02:53,200 --> 00:03:00,239
three specific reports um and we'll go
through those. The first report is a

18
00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:05,360
year-to-ate look at overtime for the
police department. So everything from uh

19
00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:12,080
January 1st through August. Uh the
second report is a report month in July

20
00:03:09,599 --> 00:03:17,200
and the third report for the month of
August. So we'll look at all three of

21
00:03:13,599 --> 00:03:21,280
those. Um that's what's packet. So um I
want

22
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:28,720
the chief is here today and I'm going to
yield the floor to him uh briefly but um

23
00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:32,159
I want to give a quick timeline of just
some of the changes and maybe I should

24
00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:35,680
get into the mic a little more. I want
to give a brief uh timeline of some of

25
00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:41,599
the changes that were made over the last
month um and somewhat over the last

26
00:03:38,879 --> 00:03:45,200
couple of weeks. So, April of this year,
if you all remember, I alerted the

27
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:50,159
council and police department that
overtime spending was nearly at capacity

28
00:03:47,519 --> 00:03:54,640
for budget um for what was set for this
year. For this year, our budget for

29
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:59,439
overtime for police was $110,000. That's
what we said we would um budget for. The

30
00:03:57,599 --> 00:04:03,760
directive was for the department to
contain overtime as much as possible uh

31
00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:08,720
moving forward through the rest of the
year. So, um my stance has been that

32
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:14,560
overtime can't completely stop, but we
have to monitor it a lot more closely so

33
00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:18,880
that uh we're not um we're not spending
taxpayer dollars unnecessarily. June,

34
00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:23,919
July, and August reports reported
consistent overtime usage despite the

35
00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:27,919
directive for a shift. August 20th, the
city council approved new vehicles for

36
00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:34,160
the police department. And I shared with
the chief that over time um would be

37
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:39,199
capped. Monday, August 24th, at 1:46
p.m., an email marked urgent was sent to

38
00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:43,120
both fire and police departments that
overtime was being overhauled by the

39
00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:47,199
administrative department. So, there was
an email sent to both fire and police

40
00:04:45,199 --> 00:04:51,360
for the same reason. Overtime's got to
be slowed down. The course of action

41
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:55,600
stem from the fact that both departments
were over budget as related to overtime.

42
00:04:53,440 --> 00:05:00,320
Both departments were instructed to
create new schedules um to change new

43
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:05,680
schedule changes to curb overtime when
not necessary by Friday, August 28th.

44
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:09,680
The email also contained an overtime
request approval form for circumstances

45
00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:14,800
where departments may need it. So, I
want to emphasize overhauling overtime

46
00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:18,400
and capping it is not the administrative
department's way of saying that there

47
00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:22,160
will be no more overtime. overtime just
has to be slowed down. So what we've

48
00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:28,160
implemented has been an over overtime
approval um form that is uh that can be

49
00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:35,280
found through the HR office. Um,
Wednesday, September 2nd, it was um it

50
00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:39,120
was noted by the by HR department that
12 shift 12-h hour shifts were still set

51
00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:42,479
for the police department, allowing
police officers to earn an extra four

52
00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:46,639
hours of overtime per day that they
completed a single shift um barring any

53
00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:51,520
extra hours that they may have made up
for someone else. Also on Wednesday,

54
00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:56,080
September 2nd, um the chief did respond
via email to share his thoughts about

55
00:05:53,680 --> 00:06:00,320
switching from a 12-h hour shift to an 8
hour shift, stating that safety was the

56
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:05,199
main concern amongst those shift
changes. Friday, September 4th, a reply

57
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:10,240
was sent to the chief stating that the
concerns were noted and would still we

58
00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:14,000
would still move to an 8 hour shift um
by Monday, September 7th. Monday,

59
00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:18,240
September 7th, yesterday being the first
day that the new schedule would take

60
00:06:15,759 --> 00:06:23,840
place, so that the city would be good
stewards of finances that residents

61
00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:28,479
entrusted to us. Monday, September 7th,
Chief Sanders uh called uh the mayor's

62
00:06:26,319 --> 00:06:33,440
office or the mayor at 6:42, this is
yesterday, at 6:42 a.m. and 12:22 p.m.

63
00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:39,120
to acknowledge that officers called out
sick and were not reporting to work. The

64
00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:43,280
first day, um I I'll remind you of the
new changes. information was officially

65
00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:46,639
shared at 10:06 p.m. in special
department and a special department

66
00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:49,840
meeting was called at 2:30 where I
joined the department for um a whole

67
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:54,400
department meeting at the justice
complex at 2:30. During the special

68
00:06:52,319 --> 00:06:57,600
department meeting at 2:30 um I
explained the changes to the department

69
00:06:55,759 --> 00:07:01,919
directly so that they would understand
the purpose behind the changes and asked

70
00:06:59,199 --> 00:07:06,240
for any clarity that they needed.
concerns from the police department

71
00:07:03,599 --> 00:07:10,720
mentioned namely also stemmed from
around safety but also touched on pay

72
00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:14,880
that they were or were not making in
current positions. Um as that point came

73
00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:19,520
up at different times throughout the
conversation. I assured the department

74
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:23,440
that all concerns did not fall on debt
fears that I will begin to work and look

75
00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:27,680
for solutions immediately u with the
council but also the chief of staff and

76
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:31,759
that taxpayer dollars were not free
money to tie that we could tie into

77
00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:36,720
12-hour schedules.
At 8:45 this morning um I met with Chief

78
00:07:34,639 --> 00:07:40,160
Sanders again and the chief of staff to
understand how the new schedule was

79
00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:44,400
progressing and if any adjustments
needed to be made. And as of

80
00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:48,319
approximately 12:59 this afternoon, I
spoke with the chief to understand and

81
00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:55,759
understood the officers were no longer
calling in sick. So um and I want to I

82
00:07:54,160 --> 00:08:00,960
know that uh Dr. Miller also
simultaneously kind of sent this request

83
00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:08,160
out for um a meeting, but uh we did have
officers call out yesterday. Um the call

84
00:08:04,479 --> 00:08:13,280
outs were due to sickness. Um and my
assessment I do believe that the new

85
00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:17,680
schedule um capping it capping schedule
time from 12 hours to 8 hours taking out

86
00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:24,080
direct overtime was part of that. That's
my assessment and um what I share with

87
00:08:21,199 --> 00:08:28,400
the department was
um it's my belief as mayor that for the

88
00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:33,760
city to run effectively every department
has to be equipped as as best equipped

89
00:08:30,879 --> 00:08:37,599
as it can be. And we have a situation
currently where that's going to take

90
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:44,039
some being some creative thinking and
some um out of the box thinking that

91
00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:44,039
sometimes um but

92
00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:48,720
their trucks that they just got or the
vehicles that they just got that you all

93
00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:55,360
approved on August 20th was something
that I noted. Um I did not directly

94
00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:59,920
propose the bonus. Um the raise and
salary was not directly my idea that I

95
00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:04,480
put on the agenda back in um late this
summer, but I know the previous mayor,

96
00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:08,080
Mayor Franklin, um and this council
discussed that and we did put that on

97
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:14,560
the agenda and we did get that passed.
So part of the conversation was um

98
00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:20,000
amongst this group was how does overtime
continue to look in the future? And um

99
00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:27,120
we're here today because I think that
that schedule actually kicking off in

100
00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:31,120
part was not necessarily um ideal for
some folks. So um I do want to yield to

101
00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:35,839
the chief because [snorts] I know that
this body may have questions. I think

102
00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:39,880
it's great that the chief is here and um
open up the fork for discussion.

103
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:49,040
» Basically just what the mayor said. Uh I
received a call Monday morning

104
00:09:45,279 --> 00:09:53,200
yesterday. from dispatch. Uh, nobody was
at work.

105
00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:57,839
I proceeded to take calls from 6:00 to
roughly 12:00 p.m. 6:00 a.m. to 12:00

106
00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:03,279
p.m. by myself.
Uh, I finally got a hold to some of my

107
00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:09,200
officers. Again, some showed, some
didn't. The ones that didn't did call in

108
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:14,880
sick. Uh, I received some assistance
from state police and the sheriff

109
00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:19,120
department. Uh but I will note every
call for service was answered by Hel was

110
00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:24,399
held in the police department. There was
no call left unanswered. The city had

111
00:10:21,279 --> 00:10:29,120
covered while from 6 to 12 it was just
me. Every call got answered.

112
00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:34,079
I do appreciate and commend the officers
that did show up and work elbow to elbow

113
00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:39,920
with me. And again I do thank the
Arkansas State Police and Philips County

114
00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:44,000
Sheriff's Office for specifically also.
I yield the floor to you all for any

115
00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:51,040
questions you may have.
>> So, this was 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. was

116
00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:53,680
where we had the the coverage issues.
>> Well, I would say it was a safety issue.

117
00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,839
I was by myself, but
>> Yes, sir.

118
00:10:54,079 --> 00:11:02,560
» I answered every call for service,
>> but but the I'm just I understand.

119
00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:06,640
» Yes, sir. I know you're very confident
that 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. is that

120
00:11:06,079 --> 00:11:13,440
» Yes.
>> Okay. And then um the officers that came

121
00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:19,040
in, were those regularly scheduled or
these were officers who were not called?

122
00:11:15,519 --> 00:11:21,360
» The one that came um he wasn't scheduled
to work the time that he came.

123
00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:23,519
» Okay.
>> And he worked later.

124
00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,040
» So he came earlier.
>> He came early. He was on vacation.

125
00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,519
» I got
>> technically he wasn't supposed to be

126
00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,640
there at all that day.
>> Okay.

127
00:11:29,839 --> 00:11:35,040
» Yesterday.
>> Okay.

128
00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:38,880
» I called. He answered. We got it taken
care of.

129
00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:42,000
» Okay. And then the um
>> the the other two that came, they were

130
00:11:40,399 --> 00:11:47,279
on schedule. They worked their shifts.
>> Okay. Now the uh this earnings detail,

131
00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,600
have you looked at it?
>> Yes.

132
00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:52,640
» Okay. Is this is this just their
earnings or is this also included?

133
00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:56,399
» That's including overtime.
>> How do we know what's overtime? What is

134
00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:59,440
there a separate category in?
>> I don't know what y'all have when I

135
00:11:58,079 --> 00:12:02,640
thought it was separated.
>> So what you all have and I should

136
00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:08,720
provide that context at the beginning.
So what you have on pages 105 through

137
00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:14,480
five, okay, this is overtime as it
relates to um every officer. So this is

138
00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:20,880
» So this isrict strictly overtime
>> um page 101 right after five and it's

139
00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:25,200
dated at the top um
August, not August, but July 1st through

140
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:29,200
July 31st. That is of overtime for the
month of July. And then the final two

141
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:33,519
pages are overtime for the um final
month of August. So, I'll share with you

142
00:12:32,079 --> 00:12:37,279
a little bit of what I shared with the
department yesterday. And and these

143
00:12:35,519 --> 00:12:42,320
conversations, um, I want to be honest
and candid. They're not fun. Um, I I I

144
00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:47,920
shared that in as as many details or as
many ways as I could with the

145
00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:54,480
department. Um, if you look for yourself
just through different um different or

146
00:12:51,360 --> 00:13:01,440
different payroll reports, um, in some
cases, take home pay for overtime has

147
00:12:56,639 --> 00:13:05,120
been 6,000, then 5,000, it's been 4,000.
It's not that's not sustainable. Um,

148
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:10,000
today
>> per month per per pay period in some

149
00:13:07,839 --> 00:13:12,160
cases per pay period. Cool.
>> Um,

150
00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,880
» to date,
>> that for the whole department. Yeah.

151
00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:19,519
» Yeah. For
>> the whole

152
00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:24,160
for so
>> there were some takehome periods for two

153
00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:29,839
weeks where officers had as much as
$3,000 of overtime. So I I'll direct you

154
00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:33,920
to um back of page five out of five. So
July, the month of July. Um as you look

155
00:13:32,399 --> 00:13:39,680
at July, it's the sixth page in your
packet. Um you can look down the totals.

156
00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:45,600
um the highest earning officer for that
particular um pay period was for that

157
00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:51,440
particular month was 6 thou was right at
6,000 right now 6,000. So

158
00:13:49,839 --> 00:13:55,440
there are some high totals coming
through um the police department in

159
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:59,680
terms of what payroll people are taking
home and my assessment was that it was

160
00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:03,760
because of how we were structuring the
schedule. Um I do know and and I feel

161
00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:09,920
like I've been on record for saying
this. I believe that city employees

162
00:14:07,199 --> 00:14:14,320
definitely need to have um higher wages.
I think that some of our wages across

163
00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:18,560
the board are not where they should be,
especially in 2026, but we have to do

164
00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:23,839
that in a way that's responsible and a
way that makes sense. So, um looking at

165
00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:28,480
these reports, I just want to draw your
attention page five out of five. As of

166
00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:33,160
right now through August, our total um
police overtime is right at $199,212.93.

167
00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:42,800
And again, our budgeted line item for
the year was 110. And it's my and I want

168
00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:48,320
to say this, it's my understanding that
I mean 110 100,000 has kind of been an

169
00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:53,040
arbitrary number that we've used for
overtime and and if we needed to amend

170
00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:58,000
or adjust that number, that's what we
would do. Um and we're at a point now

171
00:14:56,079 --> 00:15:01,199
where where overtime just has to be
slowed down. So that so that's what the

172
00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:05,800
report is to show you just kind of some
of those um high totals.

173
00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:29,839
What is what is your thought on
correcting all this all this old time?

174
00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:35,199
What what do you think? I mean, you're
in the

175
00:15:30,959 --> 00:15:39,120
» the mill doing it involve overseeing
this. How do you feel you can cut this

176
00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:42,720
out?
>> We just need more officers. That's in

177
00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,959
the short in the short answer. We just
need more officers.

178
00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:50,320
» More officers.
>> Yes.

179
00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:58,279
» How many do you board do you need? I
think fully staffed probably we had I

180
00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,279
probably need like another nine officer.

181
00:15:58,639 --> 00:16:04,000
» You need nine more.
>> Yes.

182
00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:09,680
» Is what you need.
>> And what are you doing to recruit

183
00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:12,560
those?
>> You have the slots and they're open,

184
00:16:11,759 --> 00:16:18,079
» right?
>> Uh and you have occupation to fill them,

185
00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:21,920
» correct? So, uh, what are you doing to
get those slots filled so we can cut out

186
00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:26,240
this whole time?
>> I would say what I'm doing, but I'll

187
00:16:23,519 --> 00:16:30,880
speak for the whole department. U,
every officer carries application. We're

188
00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:34,639
talking to everybody. Um, I'm at the
college three, four times a week.

189
00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:38,240
Everybody that I talk to that I feel
like is a qualified applicant, I'm

190
00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:42,079
trying to get them in. We just got a hit
on Indeed.

191
00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:47,199
Uh, we we're online and everywhere.
We're doing everything we can. Uh, I

192
00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:53,199
tell you a story that I told the mayor.
I had a guy sold everything. He was

193
00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:56,800
ready to go. The ideal officer the
county offered him about $3 more

194
00:16:54,639 --> 00:17:01,040
dollars. He called and said, "Thank you,
but better opportunities." The officers

195
00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:06,160
that I did hire when y'all agreed upon
the waves, uh, the ones that left is

196
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:12,439
better opportunities, more money, uh,
different divisions, they just they said

197
00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,439
they just wanted to grow their career.

198
00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,439
Okay.

199
00:17:15,679 --> 00:17:25,679
Yeah, overtime was down at one point. I
I'll say that we lost officers. They

200
00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:29,520
most of most of them left and it wasn't
because of the city. It wasn't because

201
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:34,640
of departments. It was they got offered
better jobs or better money. What it

202
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:39,200
came down to.
>> And when we asked for our raise, we

203
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:43,600
asked for it to be competitive.
>> To be more competitive,

204
00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:48,400
» right? Have you uh spoken to the mayor
about this problem you're having? Have

205
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:53,720
you discussed you you have discussed
this with the mayor?

206
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,720
» And u

207
00:17:54,720 --> 00:18:00,600
given the city's financial uh situation
right now,

208
00:18:01,679 --> 00:18:07,760
I think a another raise is totally out
of question. We need equipment and

209
00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:10,587
everything. Uh,
I don't want to talk about water and

210
00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:13,600
garbage, but I mean, I know in
[clears throat] my right mind that I

211
00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:18,080
can't come in here and say I need more
money for my offices right now.

212
00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:21,280
The water, the water department works
just as hard as us. The fire department

213
00:18:19,679 --> 00:18:24,559
work just as hard as us. Street and
sanitation works just as hard as us. We

214
00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:29,600
all need more money. The mayor has been
on record every meeting.

215
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:34,000
» Every city employee is under paid just
doing all we can right now to bring in

216
00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:38,400
qualified applicants. And you've
discussed this solution with the mayor

217
00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:41,200
in in previous meetings,
>> correct?

218
00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:46,080
» Okay.
And [snorts] as a council, as a city

219
00:18:43,919 --> 00:18:52,280
council, what do you feel if we can do
to help you and the mayor get resolve

220
00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:52,280
this problem?

221
00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:59,760
» In the short, it it go back to the
dollar. That's that's why we can't

222
00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:02,880
really retain or get anybody.
>> But again, I do understand the city's

223
00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:10,400
financial strength. Correct. If we
increase the officers, the new new

224
00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:17,039
recruits uh bottom line and starting
pay, you think that'll help and then

225
00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:19,200
more money for the regular hours. You
think that?

226
00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,640
» Sure. Most definitely.
>> We cut out this overtime

227
00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:28,640
» once we get fully up staff.
>> And what amount do you feel necessary

228
00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:33,919
that we need to that you negotiated
with?

229
00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:36,880
That's a great question. Uh,
we run towards the bullets. We run

230
00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,440
towards the chaos. We run towards the
fight.

231
00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:43,760
» I mean, you need to be competitive.
>> That's kind of put a number on that. I

232
00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:47,880
mean,
I'd say minimum 50,000.

233
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:55,520
» We do the job that I can't. People tell
us every day, how do you do it? I

234
00:19:52,559 --> 00:20:01,280
couldn't do what you do.
We need to seek a solution and we need

235
00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:06,480
to find the problem to solve it and uh
you need to get with the mayor because

236
00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:11,520
we did not know you know what you need
and unless you tell us the council

237
00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:19,640
itself
we were unaware of what

238
00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:19,640
your negotiations with the mayor

239
00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:26,960
I think I think he's been on record for
saying for saying this. I'm not putting

240
00:20:24,799 --> 00:20:30,000
the blame game on anybody. But as soon
as I said something about raises, I

241
00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:34,159
looked around the room. I saw heads
going down. I saw faces. I'm not

242
00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:41,600
ignorant to the fact of where the city
is right now financially.

243
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:46,720
» I understand. No. Right now, I do. But
that's part of the reason I hadn't came.

244
00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:51,360
I just understand it.
>> Mr. St. Columbia. I I I I think we ought

245
00:20:49,919 --> 00:20:56,799
to be clear about what the record of
this is, the history of it is though. Uh

246
00:20:54,159 --> 00:21:02,240
then Chief Bale was at over at the
department last spring, maybe last

247
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:06,880
March. He made a whole presentation to
this body and his presentation was if

248
00:21:05,039 --> 00:21:13,679
you raise the level of the entry level
to a certain point, then I can fully

249
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:16,799
staff my department. The concerns then
particularly that I had was that if we

250
00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:23,280
didn't fully staff, we'd be paying
overtime at at a an increased rate. But

251
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:27,280
the proposal was made to us and we gave
them what they asked for.

252
00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,520
We gave it to them.
>> Yeah.

253
00:21:27,679 --> 00:21:32,720
» So, we didn't hold back. That was the
proposal that they made. The only thing

254
00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:36,880
we held back on was the uh the high
ranking officers and then we did that in

255
00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:41,679
February of this year.
So,

256
00:21:39,039 --> 00:21:44,159
we didn't It's not like we did, we did
what we were asked to do.

257
00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:47,679
» Yeah. Right.
>> Now, in terms of what it takes to keep

258
00:21:46,159 --> 00:21:52,880
people in the department, I don't know.
Uh uh that'll be u something for the

259
00:21:50,799 --> 00:21:55,919
mayor and the chief to resolve, but
we've done everything that we've been

260
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:59,520
asked to do in terms of pay with the
police department.

261
00:21:56,799 --> 00:22:02,080
» Well, you came before us and you asked
for more police cars. We gave you

262
00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:05,360
correct
>> what we could afford to do,

263
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:08,080
» right? And we we're trying to do
everything. The council is trying to do

264
00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:11,120
everything.
>> I appreciate that to help you.

265
00:22:10,159 --> 00:22:15,520
» And
>> I going I go on the record for saying

266
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:20,400
when we got ours, everybody around us
pretty much went up too. So I mean and

267
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:25,440
Chief Bale I go on record for saying
this. I mean

268
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:29,840
» I worked under him. He had maybe I say
easy I know for sure 10 officers. I

269
00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:33,520
promised them they were coming if we got
it. Their cities went up. They didn't

270
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:39,280
come.
That's why my parenting officers that

271
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:43,200
that stood side by side with me, they
didn't get their raise. They waited,

272
00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:47,840
I don't know, maybe another eight months
before they got their raise. They were

273
00:22:44,799 --> 00:22:51,440
training officers, new officers, and
they were making more than they were.

274
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:54,480
That's why I asked her and Mary
announced, "Let's go back before you

275
00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:58,799
guys." I think they stood in the gap
long enough. And then I hired

276
00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:04,799
X amount of officers. I believe it was
10 at that time. However, they some left

277
00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:09,520
just do the better opportunities.
>> Well, we want to do everything we can.

278
00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:14,480
We as a council want to do everything we
can to help you

279
00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:21,120
resolve this situation. And you need to
get with the mayor and and let make a

280
00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:24,240
proposal as to what is necessary
and the action we need to take as a

281
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:28,240
council.
>> No.

282
00:23:25,039 --> 00:23:32,240
» I'm not. If if I may, part of the issue
that that you all and I are discussing

283
00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:37,280
is actual the the finances of it. Uh
when when Chief Bale made his

284
00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:42,159
presentation at the time, we were trying
to match what other departments making

285
00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:46,159
that was about $17 an hour. But when
Helen West Holden went up to to $17 an

286
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:51,200
hour, all the other apartments went up
above that. And so I just text the

287
00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:55,679
mayor, the chief of Forest City, he said
them starting Saturday between 38 to 42.

288
00:23:54,080 --> 00:24:01,200
Chief of Mariana says their starting
salary is $18.35.

289
00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:05,679
Uh other cities are saying they're $18.
I tested the chief of Augusta. He said

290
00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:11,120
their starting salaries now in Woodro
County are $20 an hour. And so people

291
00:24:09,039 --> 00:24:15,279
are raising their salaries. And that's
what the chief was trying to articulate

292
00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:19,360
to us is that the salary that we
approved last year was to match everyone

293
00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:24,159
else and everyone else raised their
salaries and we didn't. And that's

294
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:29,520
that's the discussion we are now to Ma's
point. Mel did say and and he to remind

295
00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:33,760
everyone of it. This is a cycle until
you get to full capacity that we're

296
00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:38,000
going to continue to have overtime. It's
we have to get to to full capacity. And

297
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,720
this is Mr. Ethley's concerns. He said
he can articulate better than me. He

298
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:45,360
stated it before
>> is that uh if we're not at the full

299
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:49,360
capacity, you're going to continue to
have overtime, overtime, overtime,

300
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:52,720
overtime. You end up spending the money.
this meeting though. I think we're

301
00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:55,679
talking about in a little yesterday.
>> Yeah. Yeah.

302
00:24:53,200 --> 00:25:01,760
» And like I said, we did meet with the
officer yesterday.

303
00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:07,440
» Money came up three, four times.
>> I heard something about safety

304
00:25:04,799 --> 00:25:11,120
50 times during that meeting.
>> In our current schedule, six days out of

305
00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:15,360
the week, it'll be two officers working
at all times. That's what I heard.

306
00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:21,360
That's those are the facts and that's
what they were voicing. Uh, I put that

307
00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:25,360
in my email when uh I was talking to the
mayor, expressing my concerns.

308
00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:29,840
We still went with the schedule. I had a
meeting with them last Saturday and let

309
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:34,799
them know. This is the new schedule and
everything. Uh,

310
00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:40,559
I worked out there. One officer, two
officers become one very fast.

311
00:25:38,159 --> 00:25:45,520
I know from yesterday I had a domestic,
I went to a fight, I had a hit and run.

312
00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:49,600
I worked all that within an hour and a
half by myself.

313
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:56,159
I I don't say I was scared, but I was
cautious. My adrenaline was pumping.

314
00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:59,039
» So I I get what they feel and I
understand the mayor's perspective, too.

315
00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:02,080
Like we got to be better stewards of our
money.

316
00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:05,360
» I get I think and I'm definitely hearing
and I respect what you're saying. I

317
00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:09,279
think the thing that was kind of a
concern is and this it this could be

318
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:15,840
completely perceived. just not
necessarily was was you know as as a

319
00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:22,240
city are we being held hostage because
officers doing overtime and it's like

320
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:26,480
that's just not responsible and I'm not
saying necessarily that's what happened

321
00:26:24,159 --> 00:26:30,960
but that was a perception
>> and and and so in a situation like that

322
00:26:29,679 --> 00:26:34,080
I think those things need to be
communicated. I don't think I don't

323
00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:38,159
think there's anybody that's sitting
here at this table that's not expecting

324
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:42,320
that police officer gonna get overtime.
At least I wasn't. I was never in my

325
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:47,279
mind thought that we would not pay
overtime. I knew that that was going to

326
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:50,640
happen. But on the same token, it's like
you got to also get a get a handle. I

327
00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,679
mean, I'm sure you probably looked at
some of these numbers. Some of these

328
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:57,200
people's overtime is better than some
people's checks, regular day checks. I

329
00:26:55,600 --> 00:27:02,240
mean, you know, and I know that's all
that's, you know, you're comparing maybe

330
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:07,679
apples to oranges, but but but the but
the thing is, you know, just guys, get

331
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:12,640
it. Let's get the overtime down. Let's
cut the hours back some we can all work

332
00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:16,640
together on this. That I think at least
that's where I'm coming.

333
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:19,520
» I can get you all information because
I'm going to say it because I know it to

334
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:24,559
be true.
But uh

335
00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:30,880
we asked them to do a job and I asked
them to stop waiting on a call to go

336
00:27:27,679 --> 00:27:35,279
find it.
I'mma wholeheartedly say that every

337
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:41,600
diamond of that overtime was justified.
How many operations have we worked with

338
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:46,960
the FBI, DTL, DTF, DEA? We're working
side by side and those are hours. And

339
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:51,120
I've I've counted where they've called
me like, "Yeah, we're not on the clock,

340
00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:55,120
but we're going to go do this with ATF.
We're going to go do this with that with

341
00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:59,760
this entity."
The number of operations that we have

342
00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:05,200
done this year that probably been more
than the past 10 years.

343
00:28:01,919 --> 00:28:08,480
» So, it's being accounted for.
I mean, and that's going to slow down. I

344
00:28:07,039 --> 00:28:12,799
mean, it is what it is. We're asking my
investigators to work patrol right now.

345
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:18,640
That's what we're doing. My three
investigators are assigned to patrol.

346
00:28:15,919 --> 00:28:21,600
When we get cases,
they're working full-time patrol. It's

347
00:28:20,559 --> 00:28:25,600
going to take a minute for them to
investigate. Going to take a minute to

348
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:30,799
get case files in. We're asking them to
essentially do both. But our call volume

349
00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:36,399
is high. It is. I'm going to say it how
it is. Our call volume is high. I ask

350
00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:40,320
the citizens now, please, I apologize in
advance. Please try to be respectful to

351
00:28:38,399 --> 00:28:45,360
my officers, but with two officers
working, there's going to be some late

352
00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:49,360
response time
and our training. If there's if there's

353
00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:55,679
a domestic, we're both foreign to it. If
it's just two of us. Sorry, ma'am. I'm

354
00:28:52,720 --> 00:29:02,240
sorry if you had a hit and run, but we
have to prioritize what we're doing.

355
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:09,559
I mean, we I'm looking at I'm looking in
in the future like

356
00:29:04,799 --> 00:29:09,559
what's to come with two officers working

357
00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:19,760
» money. I get the money. I do get it. I
promise. I hound on about. Do we have a

358
00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:23,039
comparison from this time last year to
look at?

359
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:28,000
» Um I think I think that's a quick email
to the uh treasurer to get that. Sure,

360
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:33,039
we can. It's Yeah, I'd be interested
just to see. I mean, because if

361
00:29:31,039 --> 00:29:38,159
what the
from January,

362
00:29:35,279 --> 00:29:44,240
» we get the good job after the FBI comes
in and we do indictments with them. We

363
00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:50,799
get the good job after we do X, Y, and
Z, after we work with the state police.

364
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:56,960
It's awesome.
The DT the DTF right now have been

365
00:29:54,480 --> 00:30:00,880
working with my investigator
since they have to work fulltime

366
00:29:58,399 --> 00:30:05,039
control. Now
they're not threatening but he's talking

367
00:30:02,559 --> 00:30:09,760
about sending a bill to the city. They
wasted hours. We use their buy money

368
00:30:08,399 --> 00:30:14,880
because I don't want to come to the city
for it. We use all their resources and

369
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:18,080
it's really thrown out. It's in the
garbage right now. My investigators are

370
00:30:16,159 --> 00:30:22,960
working patrol
and while she was working most times I

371
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:26,120
don't know when they're going to do X Y
and Z.

372
00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:34,159
One of the concerns that I have and I
understand everything that you're saying

373
00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:39,200
and I empathize with everything that
you've said regarding your officers and

374
00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:47,200
how they feel and their safety and all
that. I truly do.

375
00:30:42,159 --> 00:30:53,120
I do have an issue though with how
this was handled.

376
00:30:49,520 --> 00:31:00,000
I'll just be very frank. Um when you
said that

377
00:30:55,440 --> 00:31:03,919
uh let's see the officers there was an
officer who came who was not scheduled.

378
00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:07,760
He was on vacation.
And you said there were two others who

379
00:31:06,399 --> 00:31:10,880
they were or were not?
>> They were on schedule.

380
00:31:08,799 --> 00:31:16,240
» They were on schedule.
To me,

381
00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:22,240
we should have had this conversation
before that.

382
00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:28,080
If the officers were not happy,
concerned, didn't feel safe, whatever

383
00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:34,080
the issues are, which are all valid, it
would have been better to call a meeting

384
00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:38,159
prior to what happened yesterday
because that was very concerning for the

385
00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:46,440
community
at large. You know what I mean?

386
00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,440
» That that's all.

387
00:31:53,519 --> 00:31:57,600
One of the things I want to remind you
all that if you're over overtime, you

388
00:31:55,919 --> 00:32:02,720
need to consider the the appropriation
for the overtime. Uh you all still need

389
00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:07,200
to consider that uh because
we need to maintain u authorization for

390
00:32:05,679 --> 00:32:11,120
overtime.
And I say this to everybody at the

391
00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:17,200
table. I was I came in 2 minutes late
because I received a phone call from an

392
00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:20,799
agent, an investigative agency and what
they asked me to tell the body, tell the

393
00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:26,480
mayor and everyone. I just got it right
before I came in. Consider also altering

394
00:32:24,399 --> 00:32:31,679
to allow the investigation to go on.
There have been more felony cases filed

395
00:32:28,559 --> 00:32:37,279
this year than in any year in the past.
And with officers working the streets,

396
00:32:34,159 --> 00:32:43,679
they either need the agency to hire
additional people or allow overtime for

397
00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:46,720
the the criminal investigation division
so that they can continue with this

398
00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:49,760
because some of the investigations they
said to me to tell you all that some of

399
00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:54,159
the investigation they've been doing
since January and they made a lot of

400
00:32:52,399 --> 00:33:01,279
leeway with them, but they are going to
slow down the impact to little or none

401
00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:05,120
if C cannot continue to do what they're
with the other agencies.

402
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:08,880
They didn't want the agencies to be
mentioned, but they wanted to make sure

403
00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:13,519
that there's multiple agencies that are
working with the police department.

404
00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:17,519
And to that and to that point, thank
you, attorney. To that point, that's the

405
00:33:15,519 --> 00:33:22,320
point or that's the purpose of an
overtime approval form. Um, it's not

406
00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:27,120
that there is no more overtime.
Realistically, we cannot cap overtime

407
00:33:25,039 --> 00:33:32,000
for and this is not the fire department
also had a similar conversation as well

408
00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:36,320
given their overtime totals. We cannot
say that between today, September 8th

409
00:33:34,399 --> 00:33:41,200
and December 31st, there will not be
another emergency or issue where

410
00:33:38,159 --> 00:33:46,960
overtime has to be used. Um, thus the
best fix that I um put together was a an

411
00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:52,080
approval form so that anything that does
get approved in the event that we have

412
00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:56,640
to continue investigations is specific.
It's not a daily schedule where you

413
00:33:54,240 --> 00:34:00,960
accumulate this over time just I don't
say just because um but ju you

414
00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:05,840
accumulate that daily that we can
sustain that. So there are pathways to

415
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:09,200
make sure that those conversations
continue and that will be through an

416
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:13,599
approval form that goes to the
administrative office. So um overtime

417
00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:17,760
just in case anybody's leaving the table
saying well there's no more overtime

418
00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:22,679
that's not it's it's got to be approved
now. That's where we That's where it is.

419
00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:40,720
» What are you asking us to do?
>> Well, so when I had the meeting, I'm not

420
00:34:37,839 --> 00:34:44,320
I don't necessarily haven't asked um
particularly. I did tell the department

421
00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:49,440
yesterday that I was going to get to
work by trying to figure out if you all

422
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:54,159
had any extra thoughts around maybe a
specific aotment overtime throughout the

423
00:34:51,839 --> 00:34:59,920
rest of this year. Um any other
solutions that you all probably would be

424
00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:04,720
okay with or consider and um I think
this was more of a of a cause to have a

425
00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:09,760
conversation around just what happened
yesterday, the fact that there is a

426
00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:14,240
schedule change. And so I am asking um
are there thoughts around I mean my my

427
00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:18,160
suggestion is the overtime approval
fall. So can't can't realistically say

428
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:24,000
there is no more but it has to be
monitored because we're already pretty

429
00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:28,160
much close to 200% or 100% of what we
allotted for. Um [clears throat] so

430
00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:33,119
that's one measure that I put in place
but I'm interested to hear if you all

431
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:37,839
have any other things that will create a
happy medium for the situation with it.

432
00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:41,520
Well, approval of overtime certainly is
in your backyard. That's a day-to-day

433
00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:45,200
operation. So, you you have the
authority to approve it or not approve

434
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:48,480
it. At this point, the ship is sailed on
approval for additional overtime because

435
00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:52,079
they're they've doubled it up at this
part of the year. So, my suggestion

436
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:54,640
would be to just wait and clean it up at
the end of the year because we don't

437
00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:58,880
know what it's going to be going
forward. Um I I think everybody here

438
00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:02,880
would agree to do that. They've already
been paid for the time that they worked

439
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:05,680
and at this point it's over 200,000. Uh,
based on what I'm looking at, I know

440
00:36:04,079 --> 00:36:11,520
this reporting period ends in August,
but we're in September now, so we know

441
00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:16,880
it's over 200,000. Um, so I guess going
forward, my request is that we control

442
00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:20,560
it and keep it at a level that it has to
be. I understand what Mr. Val is saying,

443
00:36:19,119 --> 00:36:23,920
city attorney, about ongoing
investigations. I certainly wouldn't

444
00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:30,000
want to hamper any of those and what
they have going on. Uh but uh anything

445
00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:35,440
that's excessive and not needed has to
be

446
00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:40,000
cut out. Um the overtime during this
period last year is probably lower

447
00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:44,960
because the the increase pay didn't
start until

448
00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:49,200
I want to say it was sometime in in the
summer. So just by sheer numbers, it's

449
00:36:47,359 --> 00:36:52,880
going to be lower. I don't know uh
personally what it is, but it's going to

450
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:57,280
be lower. And then they brought on a lot
of new officers after we increased the

451
00:36:54,720 --> 00:37:02,800
base pay. So the this the staff level
was was higher. All that being said,

452
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:06,640
this is yeah, I'm not often at a loss
for words, but when I read this report,

453
00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:12,400
I'll just say it was disheartening.
Uh because

454
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:18,480
it this this hurts us as a whole. I
mean, this is that's a lot. it it sets

455
00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:23,599
us back in terms of what
I would hope our goals are in terms of

456
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:29,200
managing our our finances at this point.
And so, um, I would just encourage the

457
00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:35,680
department by through Chief Sanders and
mayor to have to find a way. We have to

458
00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:40,640
find a way. Um, I have some other
thoughts that I don't think should be

459
00:37:37,119 --> 00:37:45,599
shared at this table. Um, but that's
kind of it.

460
00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:50,400
would you be so kind to share with the
officers to let them know their value to

461
00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:54,240
us? I know that sometimes whenever you
start having conversations about money,

462
00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:57,839
it the the
>> this isn't about money.

463
00:37:55,520 --> 00:38:02,960
» No, no, but listen, but in a way it is.
And I'll tell you why. Because when it

464
00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:08,480
when you say when you tell someone, hey,
uh you're not going to be allowed to

465
00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:12,000
accumulate overtime. and
this this employee cuz I've dealt with

466
00:38:10,079 --> 00:38:17,440
with my employees and they're saying but
I'm I'm doing my job. Are you saying

467
00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:22,000
that my job is not valuable? And that's
where the question value is. And so if

468
00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:25,760
there is a conversation, it's just a
dollars and cents thing. It has nothing

469
00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:29,920
to do with their value because because
what they do and what this what the

470
00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:34,960
police uh department does for us is
extreme value. It's of high value. So I

471
00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:39,520
don't I just don't want them to process
that like this is a personal attack on

472
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:42,000
us and them to perceive that we're
saying what they're doing is not

473
00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:45,280
important because it's extremely
important. The case in fact is important

474
00:38:43,839 --> 00:38:50,079
is that we're having a meeting today
because we were concerned about the

475
00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:55,760
safety. So, so if you know if they can
work you know with the mayor and his

476
00:38:52,160 --> 00:39:01,680
mayor uh puts those you know those
safeguards in place on what you know on

477
00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:08,079
what he considers to be of um of of a
right you know budget then just work

478
00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:12,800
work with him as much as you can.
>> I'll go on record one more time. I know

479
00:39:10,240 --> 00:39:17,200
the narrative is out there.
Every officer that I've talked to, they

480
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,880
hadn't said one word to me about money
or overtime.

481
00:39:18,079 --> 00:39:22,000
» Yes, sir.
>> They said that it's going to be two of

482
00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:24,480
us out here. That's what they told us.
>> Yes, sir.

483
00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:26,720
» Now,
that's just what they told me. I don't

484
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:29,280
know.
>> Okay.

485
00:39:27,359 --> 00:39:33,359
» How the other narrative got out there.
>> I I haven't heard the other narrative. I

486
00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:38,000
I'm just going from my own personal
experience of of having staff. And when

487
00:39:35,599 --> 00:39:42,240
you start talking about cut cutting pay
or cutting overtime, people perceive it

488
00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:47,200
like you have. Oh, so you're saying I'm
not valuable and that's good. We we know

489
00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:50,800
the police department's right. We
can't do anything without the police

490
00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:54,880
department, which you know, we just want
to convey that if there's conversations

491
00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:58,880
about cutting overtime, it's not it's
not an attack on your value. It's we're

492
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:04,079
just basically trying to watch our
budget. So

493
00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:08,160
that's awesome.
We appreciate y'all.

494
00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:12,240
» I mean, I would think that I mean,
mayor, correct me if I'm wrong. I mean,

495
00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:17,440
I would think that because I understand
if you've only got two officers and

496
00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:21,040
you've got a situation where officer has
to take or escort a family to the

497
00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:24,960
hospital because there's been something
happened, but then you've got the other

498
00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:29,280
officer who's still on the scene. I
mean, I would think that there would be

499
00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:33,680
some sort of
um

500
00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:39,920
understanding or may maybe the mayor
could approve having another officer

501
00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:44,160
come in so that the safety is assured or
at least helped a little bit. I mean, is

502
00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:46,880
that going to be part of it or
>> That's going to be part of it. And I was

503
00:40:45,599 --> 00:40:51,520
waiting for this meeting to see if there
were any outstanding ideas or solutions

504
00:40:49,359 --> 00:40:55,839
from this body. But um one of the
officers I think I think one of the

505
00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:59,200
officers yesterday asked you know if I'm
physically in a fight am I supposed to

506
00:40:57,680 --> 00:41:03,359
stop to call the chief who then is
supposed to call you?

507
00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:08,400
» So it's like obviously that's not going
to be feasible. Um so the best and

508
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:14,079
smoothest way to do overtime approvals
will be to give guidelines on what will

509
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:19,599
qualify. um the 8 hour schedules in my
opinion should stay because it's not

510
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:23,359
sustainable and I think the way that we
can show that we're trying to work with

511
00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:28,160
the department is making those sustain
or not sustainable but making those

512
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:33,280
understandings clear in these scenarios.
>> Yeah, make make the judgment call.

513
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:35,359
» There's no big exception there. There's
going to be exceptions. There's going to

514
00:41:34,079 --> 00:41:38,599
be times going to have to happen with
trying to w

515
00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:44,240
uh M the treasur Mr. Turner has emailed
all of us while we're sitting here.

516
00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:50,599
» Okay.
>> Uh over time through this through the

517
00:41:46,079 --> 00:41:50,599
same period last year was $157,21.34.

518
00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:58,400
And again, most of the the um the year
was at the reduced reduced pay level. So

519
00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:03,200
I don't know proportionally if it's the
same or not, but

520
00:42:00,319 --> 00:42:07,200
» numerically it's it's uh about $43,000
left.

521
00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:11,040
» There are two or three financial things
for you all to consider. one, it appears

522
00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:19,040
that almost everybody on here is making
$1923 an hour. Uh the overtime rate is

523
00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:22,960
$28.85 and looking at it and that it
appears that they do testing and

524
00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:27,680
promotion. We haven't done any testing
and promotion to move people up so you

525
00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:31,119
can hire other people. Uh and so all
those are financial considerations that

526
00:42:29,280 --> 00:42:34,560
you going forward as relates to
day-to-day. The mayor is responsible for

527
00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:39,119
day-to-day. I just want you all to keep
in mind that you have to look strongly

528
00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:44,560
at your budget because you need to hire
additional people and promote people. Uh

529
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:47,440
but your starting wage is 1923 according
to these calculations.

530
00:42:46,720 --> 00:42:53,680
» It's competitive.
>> That's certified. I mean uncertified was

531
00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:58,319
mostly what we're going to get is 1682.
Right. So you still have a competitive

532
00:42:55,920 --> 00:43:02,720
wage 1923.
>> Yeah.

533
00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,480
What starting teacher was?
>> Sir,

534
00:43:03,119 --> 00:43:08,480
» it's about what a starting teacher
would.

535
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:11,040
» We ain't You said starting teacher.
>> Well, not Well, it depends on which

536
00:43:10,240 --> 00:43:13,440
district.
>> We ain't babysitting kids. I just want

537
00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:18,400
to go on record.
>> No. And I understand. I understand.

538
00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:27,720
» I I get that. I get that, Miss.
>> I get that. I do. I ask I go home to

539
00:43:21,440 --> 00:43:27,720
educate every day. in this day stream.

540
00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:35,680
But yeah, so yes, which is I was just
doing a compare which I know you should

541
00:43:33,119 --> 00:43:38,960
never do that. I was just comparing
another probably

542
00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:45,400
» another I was comparing another
professional, you know, group to another

543
00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:45,400
which I know you probably shouldn't do.

544
00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:57,359
I'd also like to encourage you um and it
was something that I really myself

545
00:43:54,000 --> 00:44:03,839
didn't care for either, but when I
worked for I was a traveling speech

546
00:43:59,920 --> 00:44:08,319
pathologist and I used to get speech
pathology services go going in nursing

547
00:44:06,240 --> 00:44:14,960
homes and things like that and we were
required to do time studies and they're

548
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:20,400
a pain. I mean, they really are. But it
may help you a little bit, you know, in

549
00:44:17,839 --> 00:44:25,200
your scheduling process because they're
probably peak, not always because you're

550
00:44:23,359 --> 00:44:29,040
going to have crisis happen on different
days and be different times of the night

551
00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:37,440
or whatever, but there's certain maybe
peak days maybe uh peak periods during

552
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:41,200
the week, peak time at night, maybe I
don't know,

553
00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:44,480
» peak time like the summertime typically
peak

554
00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:48,520
RP holiday season for us
>> and holiday is special.

555
00:44:49,839 --> 00:44:57,839
» I have just general question for the the
mayor and the chief. Uh the the issue is

556
00:44:55,760 --> 00:45:02,800
we we you informed the body as to the
issue and the city council is only in

557
00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:07,040
charge of finances and real property.
Are you do you have a financial action

558
00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:11,040
asking the city or you're just the city
council? You all are just making a

559
00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:14,880
presentation.
I don't have a in this meeting. I knew

560
00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:19,760
what it was about. So
>> I think Dr. Miller and I mutually kind

561
00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:25,680
of simultaneously I sent an email before
I checked my email and um one I think

562
00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:29,280
his was concern and mine was also for
just acknowledgement of the fact that

563
00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:34,160
there was someies yesterday. So there's
no ask other other than if and I think

564
00:45:32,319 --> 00:45:39,040
has been answered that there was um
alternative ways to consider.

565
00:45:36,079 --> 00:45:44,079
» Yes sir.
>> I thought I thought the I guess the

566
00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:47,280
unspoken agreement was that you would
manage overtime

567
00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:49,839
» and then we'll clean it up at the end of
the year because we don't know what's

568
00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:55,920
going to happen the rest of the year. So
that that's I think that's

569
00:45:53,599 --> 00:45:59,440
» just
any other discussion on on the matter at

570
00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:01,920
all.
>> No.

571
00:46:01,599 --> 00:46:07,760
Do
>> uh I do have u do you have any uh

572
00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:10,079
recruits or do you have anyone in the
academy right now?

573
00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:11,760
» I have one in the academy right now.
>> You have one?

574
00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:17,440
» Yes.
>> And when will he be out of the academy?

575
00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:20,160
» He will be out at the end of November.
I believe it's right before

576
00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:22,079
Thanksgiving. Do they have any
commitment to stay?

577
00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:24,079
» Say again.
>> Do they have any commitment to stay

578
00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:27,599
after they finish?
>> No, they do not.

579
00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:32,160
» No, but if they leave within a certain
time period, the state law authorizes us

580
00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:36,480
to write letters to the other department
that they're hired from to reimburse us

581
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:40,319
a portion of the expenses that the city
spent.

582
00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:47,720
» Are we following up on that?
>> We do it very in Arkansas. We can't get

583
00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:47,720
anything out of state. Okay. Right.

584
00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:57,400
Are we utilizing uh do we have very many
part-time officers?

585
00:46:54,400 --> 00:46:57,400
» One.

586
00:46:59,599 --> 00:47:05,040
» How many how many part-time officers?
>> We have one part-time officer.

587
00:47:03,839 --> 00:47:11,720
» One.
>> He's been there 50 years and he been

588
00:47:06,720 --> 00:47:11,720
there 40 years. 50, right?

589
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:22,560
I mean, is that a consideration? Maybe
use part-time officers to kind of fill

590
00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:27,119
in some gaps that may
>> 100%. The last time I checked, I

591
00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:32,960
parttime officers make 1150.
>> They said I thought I was told I'm not

592
00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:36,079
running towards the ballistic for 1150.
>> And I guess to that end, that's

593
00:47:34,720 --> 00:47:39,440
something that we could have discussed,
you know, before. Now,

594
00:47:37,520 --> 00:47:43,520
» I brought that up.
>> Well, there's been no proposal made. I

595
00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:47,839
missed that. I don't and I don't I don't
remember that but I mean if we fixed it

596
00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:51,359
» when you were pro Tim you asked me about
part time

597
00:47:49,040 --> 00:47:55,440
» man I that's I did a whole lot of
>> Did you get a salary for part

598
00:47:53,680 --> 00:47:58,400
» did you give a a proposed salary for
part time I don't remember

599
00:47:56,560 --> 00:48:02,160
» I didn't I was still fighting for my
officers that would get paid 1450

600
00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:05,839
» I understand
well maybe it might be something we re

601
00:48:03,599 --> 00:48:08,839
we revisit
so

602
00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:13,520
» any other discussion

603
00:48:14,079 --> 00:48:20,640
Not I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.
So move

604
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:25,160
» second being ajourned.
Thank you all. Thank you chief