 In addition to hearing from a Comcast representative during a
building and grounds committee meeting, and from John Fisher of
Blissful Enterprise, Dustin Fulton was present to speak about
Together for Lincoln, and an ongoing discussion of the city's policy
and procedures manual resumed from the week prior.
All 10 members of the council were present for the meeting.
Policy on personal use of computers
Alderwoman Melody Anderson chairs the policy and procedures
committee for the city of Lincoln. She has been working on a
revision of the city's policy and procedures since last fall. When
she began the project she said that she wanted to develop a manual
that could be updated progressively as the need arose.
She noted that many of the policies in the manual were not in
keeping with modern times.
At a committee meeting June 21, the discussion focused on
controlling the use of city computers and Internet for personal
interests.
This topic brought mixed feelings from the aldermen. The policy
and procedures manual applies to nonunion workers and union workers
only if their collective bargaining agreement does not address the
specific issue.
As the group discussed the use of the Internet for Web browsing,
e-mail, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other such social sites, one
view was that all such use should be strictly prohibited, with
disciplinary action possible for violators.
On the other hand, it was brought up that the fire department
assistant chiefs who are not union members are in-house at the fire
station 24 hours at a time, and that during their downtime in the
station, they should be allowed to e-mail or visit social websites
as a means of communicating with family and friends.
Aldermen Tom O'Donohue and David Wilmert agreed that in many
workplaces, some personal use of Internet allowed.
The mayor read a policy Alderman Jeff Hoinacki provided that
is being used in Pensacola, Fla. Snyder read the policy, which said
that it was acceptable for employees to use the computer or Internet
in brief intervals for personal use. The policy also said that the
city-owned computer was not to be used for personal gain, such as an
Internet business.
Alderwoman Stacy Bacon said that she was not in favor of any
personal use of computers. She cited that at the prison where she
works, the employees are not allowed to have Internet and the
computers are locked so that employees cannot download personal
programs or play games.
O'Donohue said he was much more inclined to support the
policy Snyder had read aloud, and Hoinacki said he thought that
the policy could be left somewhat open. Anderson agreed that she too felt the inclination to be a little more flexible.
Policy for travel expense discussed
At this week's meeting Anderson moved on to the question of
travel expenses.
Currently the policy and procedures manual sets no limits for
food expenses during out-of-town travel.
She said that she had a copy of a state reimbursement chart that
had been provided to her by Hoinacki.
Anderson said she didn't know what the council wanted to do, if
they wanted some specific amounts or generalized statements.
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel said that she would suggest leaving it
at $100 per day for out-of-town travel meal expense. This is a
figure that had been mentioned at previous meetings.
Alderman Buzz Busby said he thought there needed to be an
exception for the mayor and city clerk. He said specifically that
the mayor might need to purchase lunch for someone, and he needed to
have the ability to do that. Busby said that the wording for the
mayor and clerk should be "at their discretion according to their
budget."
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During the discussion there were mixed emotions as to whether
$100 per day was enough or too much. Some felt that even on a trip
to Chicago, if the traveler was conservative, they could eat on a
lot less than $100 a day.
However, on the other end of the scale, there were those who
thought that three meals in Chicago for that amount or less would
simply not be possible.
Again it was mentioned that this policy was for nonunion
employees and union workers whose collective bargaining agreement
does not cover the policy. Fire Chief Kent Hulett then said that
the firefighters had no policy in their union agreement, but that
they observe a limit of $30 per day. He said this has also been an
issue on occasion, so he is looking forward to a policy that will
provide some guidance in the matter.
Chuck Conzo, newly appointed city treasurer, was in attendance
and took the podium to briefly explain how the state of Illinois
reimburses for meals, based on quarters of the day when the employee
is traveling.
There was also discussion about establishing a per diem, which
the council appeared not to be in favor of. The problem with per
diem is that it must be counted as income for the traveler and is
taxable. The travelers then have to maintain their own records and
deduct travel expense from their annual tax returns.
At one point Conzo said that breakfast allowance on a trip to
Chicago was $5.50. Busby said afterward that he would
guarantee it was impossible to eat a breakfast in Chicago on that
amount of money.
Neitzel maintained that it should be a set amount with a
qualification of "not to exceed." Others agreed that if the amount
was set and the language used, then the traveler would be forewarned
that there would be no reimbursement for the amount exceeding their
budget.
Conzo also suggested that if there was a set amount, it could be reduced when a meal is provided at the meeting. He said that
sometimes a meal is provided but someone will choose to eat out,
and it could be stipulated that if they do so, they do it at their
own expense.
Alderman Tom O'Donohue said that he felt like the only way to do
it is to pick a number, then stick to it. As the council discussed
that, they kept coming back to the $100 per day and a discussion as
to whether or not that was enough.
Alderwoman Joni Tibbs spoke out, saying that while there are
plenty of expensive places to eat in Chicago, her experience is that
when there, she has found a number of inexpensive little
restaurants.
O'Donohue said that speaking from experience, he can eat a large
lunch on less than $15. Several did not agree, but he contended that
he has done it many a time because it was the limit his employer set
on the meal.
Alderman David Wilmert asked if the group was able to pick a
number so that they could move on to another subject. Anderson said
that instead of picking a number immediately, she would like for
everyone to go home and think about what the number should be and
e-mail her.
She added that once she had heard from everyone, she'd try to
figure out an average and bring a figure to the next meeting.
[By NILA SMITH]
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