City considers new education incentive plan for employees
Published 2:08 pm Thursday, November 21, 2019
City officials are considering a new educational incentive plan for employees who pursue additional education or certification related to their work.
Winchester City Manager Matt Belcher said the proposal is designed as a way to attract and retain workers and an educated workforce for the city. The plan would apply to all departments within city government.
Each department would come up with its own list of certifications that would qualify for the program.
A proposed amendment to the city’s educational reimbursement plan would pay up to the cost of three credit hours at either Eastern Kentucky University of the University of Kentucky, whichever is higher.
“This is another tool in our toolbox,” Belcher said.
The city has struggled to recruit and retain employees, particularly in the fire department. Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney said in a memo to Belcher and the city commissioners implementing the program would help the department.
“Even though it could make (the budget) tight for now, we believe the benefits in the future will help in recruitment and retention and hopefully we are not constantly addressing this issue,” Rigney wrote. “We think this educational specialty pay incentive added on to our current benefit package will definitely make us more competitive and attractive in the job market.”
Employees would earn a two-step pay increase within the city’s pay plan per certification earned, with a maximum of 10 steps.
“There’s been a lot of work on this front,” Belcher said. “It’s very important to the residents. I think we need to reward our employees when they do these things.”
About two dozen city firefighters attended the meeting to support the proposal.
The proposal may come to a vote during the commission’s Dec. 3 meeting.
In other action, the commission:
— heard a presentation from Brayden Whiteside about the Little Free Library.
— approved a request to close East Broadway St. on April 24, 2020, for a car show.
— approved requests for out-of-state travel for city employees.
— approved a recommendation to close Winchester City Hall Dec. 23.
— authorized a letter of commitment for accreditation of Main Street Winchester.
— accepted the resignations of Drew Graham from the Historic Preservation Commission and Beverly Ackerman from the municipal cemetery board.
— approved an order with the Kentucky League of Cities to perform a strategic planning process for the city.
— rejected all bids for property at 37 Sixth St. and 949 Muddy Creek Road.
— approved engineering service agreements with Palmer Engineering for the Fulton Road and Seventh Street truck route projects.
— approved an engineering service agreement with Palmer Engineering for storm sewer work along Winn Avenue.
— reappointed Mark Arnold to the Historic Preservation Commission for a three-year term.
— reappointed Shanda Cecil to the Winchester Tree Board for a four-year term.
— appointed Gralin Menifee to the Housing Authority of Winchester for a four-year term.
— appointed Gerald Tackett to the Winchester Board of Ethics for a three-year term.
— approved the purchase of property at 44 Lincoln St. for the Lincoln Street project.
— reclassified Brian Hart from firefighter III/EMT to firefighter III/paramedic.
— reclassified James Parks for completing the roads scholar program.
— approved hiring Oliver Kline as a patient transfer specialist/EMT.
— reclassified Ethan O’Boyle from patient transfer specialist/EMT to patient transfer specialist/paramedic.
— reclassified Daron Stephens after completing the road master program.