Paxton workshop revisits policies and procedures [PREMIUM]

THE PAXTON CITY COUNCIL at the July 25 workshop on policies and procedures.

Story and photo by RUBY KEARCE 

The Paxton City Council held a workshop Monday, July 25, and began the process of updating outdated job descriptions. Residents have reportedly experienced confusion related to an incorrect understanding of city personnel’s responsibilities. So, the city plans to address these issues by revising wording within the Policies and Procedures Manual. Individual city employees were asked to bring an updated list of daily duties and responsibilities to the next Policy and Procedure workshop. 

The council also discussed the length of workdays, timing of lunch hours, and how to be sure that someone is in the office at all times during business hours. They proposed:

Billing Clerk Lunch hour will be taken from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. 

City Clerk Lunch hour will be taken from 12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. 

Outside Employees will take lunch from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. 

Discussing Policy #201, At-Will employment, they proposed adding the City “will terminate any and all employees who fail to comply with these standards and rules.” to the existing policy. They also discussed including written evaluations, versus verbal, to protect the city if an employee must be fired. In reference to drug/alcohol testing, the council would like to add verbiage that states a drug/alcohol screen is mandatory if an accident occurs on the job. 

The next Paxton City Council workshop to conclude revising of the policies and procedures is to be announced. Once all policies and procedures have been discussed a new manual will be written and brought before the council for approval.