City of Grand Island, Courtesy
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council adopted a revised conflict of interest policy after considerable discussion Dec. 3.
The main point discussed about the revised policy was whether to include City Council members in the policy as having to report possible conflicts of interest. City Council member Chuck Haase was the most vocal about that point and said he opposed the proposed policy.
“This is a bad policy for elected officials,” Haase said.
City Attorney Kari Fisk wrote in a memo to City Council members that a revised policy was needed to comply with federal grant receipts and federal funding policies. She said that the proposed policy was also in compliance with requirements of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
She wrote that “new changes in the federal system require that a copy of the city’s Conflict of Interest Policy be provided when Federal funding is obtained for any project. …This policy governs all elected officials for the City and all City employees.”
Fisk said that if the policy was not adopted, it could jeopardize the receipt of federal grants.
A motion to amend the policy but to exclude elected officials failed by a 3-7 vote. Council members Chuck Haase, Mike Paulick, and Doug Lanfear voted for the motion. Then a motion to approve the policy was made. It passed 9-1, with Haase voting against it.
In other business, the City Council elected Jack Sheard as the new City Council President by a 6-4 paper ballot vote. Mark Stelk, who has served as president for the last year, was also nominated.
In another item, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve a labor agreement between the city and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1597, Service/Clerical/Finance. In a memo to City Council, Human Resources Director Aaron Schmid wrote that the City of Grand Island currently employs approximately 29 job classifications under the labor agreement with the union. The labor agreement expired on Sept. 30. The City Council voted to approve a new agreement, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024, until Sept. 30, 2027. The agreement includes a 4 percent cost of living credit for the first year.
Also, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve revised personnel rules and regulations. Schmid wrote in a memo to the City Council wrote in a memo to City Council that portions of the Personnel Rules and Regulations are also referenced in the Union labor contracts. The last revision to the Personnel Rules and Regulations was Oct. 1, 2022.
Next, the City Council voted 10-0 to appoint Shannon Callahan as Street Superintendent. State statutes require that conditions must be met in order for a municipality to qualify to receive an annual $8,000 Street Superintendent Incentive payment.
Finally, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve a revised salary ordinance to reflect updates needed for accurate and fair employee compensation. The revision aligns with recent changes to the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Grand Island and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Service/Clerical/Financial.
Grand Island’s City Council adopted a number of policy changes Dec. 3, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
