Texarkana, Ark., employees will no longer amass sick-leave hours beyond the state-mandated limit, but they may keep all the hours they have accrued.
The city Board of Directors on Monday unanimously voted to change city personnel policy to ensure that in the future, no employee can bank more than 90 days of sick leave, the maximum dictated by state statute. The new ordinance freezes sick-leave accrual for any employee now above the limit, which the city will enforce from now on.
For years, employees have been allowed to bank more than 90 days of sick leave. The result is more than 400,000 hours of accrued sick leave worth about $9.2 million, according to Mayor Allen Brown, who recently raised the issue as one of his first official acts since taking office Jan. 1.
Before the vote, Ward 2 Director Laney Harris asked Brown whether the new policy would increase sick leave taken by employees. Brown said he did not think so, adding that a lot of overtime on the payroll-sometimes paid to employees covering for others who are sick-is a more significant issue.
"I've personally met with the department heads. I've discussed it with them. Sick leave has not been a problem for the city in the past. What really was a problem was overtime. That's where it does cost the city an enormous amount of money," Brown said. "Everybody I've met with, I have no doubt they will watch this going forward."
In other business, the board unanimously approved changes recommended by the city Planning Commission regarding wrecker services. Wrecker services must now attain a conditional use permit to operate within certain commercial zones.
"Basically what we've done is some housekeeping, looking at our ordinances and bringing everything up to date," Planning Commissioner Boots Thomas told the board. "It gives you more control over your land uses, and hopefully in going forward it will make the city a cleaner place to do business."
The board also unanimously approved spending more than $45,000 on a roller apparatus for the streets division. The cost is included in the city's current budget.
The board's next meeting is scheduled for March 18.