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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Minutes - 4/28/2020 Approved CITY OF MUSKEGO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES April 28, 2020 6:00 PM City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue CALL TO ORDER Mayor Petfalski called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Alderpersons Wolfe, Hammel, Terrance, Kapusta, Engelhardt, Kubacki, and Madden. Also present: Police Chief Rens, City Attorney Warchol, and Deputy Clerk Blenski. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE The Deputy Clerk stated the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting law. NEW BUSINESS Discuss City Functions, Employee Work Arrangements and Compensation During the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as Employment Policy Handbook Section 8.9 – Emergency Conditions/Evacuations Mayor Petfalski stated the current policy should be reviewed. He is looking for feedback for the future. There are a few employees being paid and they are not working. The Mayor stated he did not take a survey of every department to determine how many employees were affected. He did note that there were a few high school students who were working at the Library before the Pandemic. Based on the current policy, they are being paid and not working. This situation will change as the Library will begin offering curbside service this weekend. Applying for FEMA funds was also discussed. The Mayor stated the application process is very difficult and labor intensive. The City should not count on receiving any funding. After completing all the paperwork, there are no guarantees. The City will continue to monitor the expenditures. The Mayor recommended that the language in Section 8.9 of the Employment Policy Handbook be removed and replaced with new language. Alderperson Terrance: The City needs a mechanism in place to be able to make changes depending on the situation. There are a limited amount of dollars to spend. Alderperson Kubacki: Employees were hired with this policy in place. He supports leaving the language in for now and make changes going forward. When dire circumstances arise, the City needs tools in place to address them. Alderperson Engelhardt: Agreed that a change should be made going forward to give the Mayor options. The Mayor suggested a Telecommuting Policy be developed. There is currently nothing in place to address this. Future circumstances are unknown. 2 April 28, 2020 Alderperson Kubacki: The consensus is that the policy should be reviewed and changed going forward. Discuss the Annual Fees for the “Class B”/Class “B” 2020 Licensing Renewal Period Mayor Petfalski stated the Class B establishments are in the process of renewing their liquor licenses. The combined fee for intoxicating liquor and fermented malt beverages is $500.00. Several municipalities are discounting the license fees in an effort to assist these establishments. He recommends a 25% reduction. However, he is open to feedback from the Council members. The Mayor noted that any reduction will affect the City’s revenue budget. Following discussion, the consensus of the Committee was to provide a 50% reduction. A Resolution to reduce the fees will be on the next Common Council agenda. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS None ADJOURNMENT Alderperson Kubacki made a motion to adjourn at 6:27 p.m. Alderperson Madden seconded; motion carried. Minutes taken and transcribed by Deputy Clerk Blenski.