Contract negotiations with three different union groups are included in Thursday’s Ketchikan City Council meeting.
Because newly elected members weren’t familiar with the issue, the Council voted on Oct. 15 to defer approval of a tentative agreement with the Ketchikan Professional Firefighters Association. That item is back for consideration Thursday.
If approved, the agreement will be retroactive to the start of this year, and will last through the end of 2017. It includes a 1.6 percent pay raise this year, and 2 percent raises each of the subsequent years; and a reduction in the employee share of health insurance premium costs.
According to the city, the new contract will cost the city an additional $177,661. Union members have ratified the agreement, according to the city.
An executive session is scheduled in case Council members want to discuss the tentative agreement. Two more executive sessions are scheduled to talk about ongoing contract negotiations, with the Public Safety Employees Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
And four additional executive sessions are on the agenda for the Council to discuss litigation strategies related to demolition of the old Bawden Street building; legal and financial issues related to the effort to sell Ketchikan Public Utilities Telecommunications Division; and annual evaluations for the City Clerk and City Manager.
Executive sessions take place behind closed doors. The state Open Meetings Act allows executive sessions for discussions of issues that would have an adverse effect upon the finances of the public entity if known; issues that might prejudice the reputation and character of any person; issues that are required to be kept confidential; and issues involving government records that are not subject to public disclosure.
Also Thursday, the Council will decide whether to hire a new Public Works Department director. The position has been vacant more than a year, with Port and Harbors Director Steve Corporon filling in while also running his own department.
According to a memo from City Manager Karl Amylon, Mark Hilson of Pennsylvania has agreed to accept the job with an annual starting salary of about $114,000, plus benefits. If the Council approves, he will start work on Dec. 28.
Thursday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
