Wakefield city workers object to change in work hours

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - A Tuesday work session of the Wakefield city council resulted in angry city workers voicing complaints about a pending change in work hours.

At its most recent regular meeting on Feb. 26, council members had voted to change the city work day from the current schedule of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to the later period of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mayor pro tempore Amy Tarro was the only member to vote no on the change, which was expected to take effect after the March 11 adjustment in daylight savings time.

"The 6 to 2 shift has been in effect for 23 years," said Michael Sibley, who has been employed by the city for 24 years and currently works as a foreman.

He asked why the council made the change.

"We're not allowed to answer that because it's a grievance," said Mayor John Granato of the issue that has since been taken up by the city's union.

"No one asked us our input before shifting our hours," said James Tarro, who has worked 16 years with the city. "You're giving us all a bad attitude."

Sibley conceded that the council has a right to institute certain changes, such as work loads, but he said that the council's decision on work hours will have ramifications.

"It's going to bite us next winter," he said.

Sibley also asked, "When this thing is settled, are we going to get a legitimate reason for why this was changed?"

Granato assured him that they would.

When city manager Richard Brackney informed council members that, as of April, they need to start discussing priorities for the 2018-19 city budget, council member Pat Mann told city workers in the audience that the council would appreciate their input as well.

James Tarro thanked her for the invitation, claiming that it's not typical for city workers to be asked for their opinion.

Sibley added that the council might wish to consider having occasional gatherings with city employees just to get ideas and input.

Council member Kay Wiita also encouraged employees to approach the council with any concern. "We'll be glad to meet with you," she said.

"We have good workers, and we need to listen to them," concluded mayor pro tem Tarro.

In a separate issue, Granato volunteered to create a job description for a supervisor electrician, a proposed new position that Brackney said will be categorized as "at will," which michigan.gov defines as an employer's right to "discharge an employee for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all."

Granato said he also will update selected other city job descriptions.

In addition, Brackney reported that the city's quonset hut storage building on Sunday Lake Street remains in limbo as building committee members explore additional options for its possible restoration.

If refurbishing the building proves too costly, Brackney said replacement remains another option for the structure that he said has "been an eyesore for 20 years."

Finally, Brackney also informed council members that they cannot destroy beaver dams unless the situation threatens public welfare, in which case Brackney said the city can pursue a permit to purchase explosives, a solution normally prohibited by the DNR.

The council, which cannot vote during workshop sessions, also agreed to place the following issues on the next city council agenda so that related action may be taken:

-A suggestion by Brackney that city items that cost more than $200 should be inventoried.

-A determination of how Brackney should handle water thawing issues.

-A suggestion by Brackney that the deck (but not the separately supported Nee-Gaw-Nee-Gaw-Bow statue) next to the Wakefield Visitors and Information Bureau should be removed, so as to reveal what steps to take next in relation to reconstructing a new set up.

-A suggestion by Granato the city should institute a specific policy, including a related warning letter, in relation to rising water in property owners' yards.

Following are notations on the city calendar:

The next city council meeting will be on March 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The Wakefield city planning commission will meet on the same day at 4:30 p.m.

The city council also will have a workshop to update city work rules on March 14 at 10 a.m.