City puts temporary freeze on raises for non-union employees as council takes a look at percentage given
Planned raises for non-union city employees are on temporary hold.
The Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday decided to freeze increases for non-bargaining employees until the amount of the increase is resolved.
Mayor John Gunter brought the non-bargaining employee salary increase discussion to council for two reasons. He said he did not realize until they had a discussion this budget cycle that the budget increase for salaries is 7.25%.
“As we had our discussion in our budget discussion, we realized there was a cost savings if that wasn’t going to be the case, same with bargaining,” Gunter said. “Tonight we approved (Resolution) 261-26 for the bargaining unit for their increase. If you read through that resolution, there are basically four classifications of employees.”
He said bargaining is concerned about non-bargaining getting something different.
“The city manager, city auditor, and city attorney have the flexibility when it comes to non-bargaining to do whatever they want as long as they stay in the guardrails of what is budgeted,” Gunter said of increases. “If we did not reduce the budgetary dollar amount from 7.25% to 4.49%, that would have given those individuals the flexibility with their employees — non-bargaining employees — to do whatever they wanted. This is a bucket of money and they can divide that dollar amount as long as they stay in that bucket. I don’t personally feel that is right.”
He said increases for non-bargaining employees should be approved by council as well.
Gunter’s first motion, which he later withdrew, was to match the non-bargaining with bargaining units with a 4.49% increase per employee as the maximum amount and, if an employee has reached the maxed range, they would receive a flat $1,000 increase.
A legal concern was raised.
“I am concerned we are treading down a path that violates several different provisions of our ordinance,” City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said, adding that council already took action by approving the budget. “I am concerned we are going to be doing something that is impermissible.”
Gunter made another motion, which passed, stating “until resolved, no increase for non-bargaining employee and once resolved retroactive to the first full pay period in October.”
“I want to confirm one more time this is against legal advice. I completely follow and agree with the mayor. (We are) picking and choosing our legal advice and I will say no,” Councilmember Rachel Kaduk said.
Councilmember Dr. Derrick Donnell also voted against the motion, which passed 6-2.
“You already authorized those increases to the non-bargaining employees. You will run afoul of 2.37.10. Those increases are identified and are effective in the first biweekly period. I believe that motion will run afoul of the current ordinance,” Boksner said.
The council voted on the budget Sept. 24, and would have had to take action at their next meeting, Sept. 28.
Gunter said he will add the discussion to the next workshop on Wednesday, so more details can be added and staff could provide the applicable ordinances.
Councilmember Keith Long said the figure does not change, only the desire to put limitations on how the figure is utilized.
“The budget has been set. We are not changing the budget, or dollar amount,” he said. “We are changing how the money is spent.”
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