By Joshua Huff, sports editor
SPRINGVILLE – The Springville City Council met in an emergency teleconference session on Tuesday, March 31, to discuss matters related to the continuing crisis attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.
The council convened to adopt an amended resolution to remove direct access to public facilities unless by appointment only. The city has placed signage notifying the public of this action. The resolution passed unanimously.
The council also amended the personnel policy to allow for Springville Mayor William Isley Jr. to send “certain” employees home until April 15, with full payment and benefits extended to them. Those employees will be determined by the city. The council unanimously voted to amend the policy and added that the leave is necessary for the health and safety of the employees.
The language in the emergency paid leave policy states that “Department Heads or the Mayor are authorized to create a work schedule for the employees under their direction to ensure the essential function of government remain operational while minimizing the risk of adverse health or safety conditions to their employees. In such instances, employees that are directed not to come to work during time they would otherwise be scheduled to work, will be given leave with pay …
“… Emergency paid leave is intended to allow the Mayor or the Department Heads to dictate working schedules and pay employees who are directed not to come to work but who would otherwise be available to work. Employees who have an applicable qualifying event making them eligible for “Emergency Paid Sick Leave” as contemplated by the Family First Coronavirus Response Act will be placed on said leave immediately and in lieu of all other accrued leave. Employees who are sick but do not have a Qualifying Event or who have exhausted their leave under the act will be required to use accrued sick leave.”
The emergency paid policy begins immediately. Should an emergency arise, employees will be called upon to deal with the particular situation.
In addition, the city will remove all part-time employees from current payroll distributions except from the police and fire department.
In other matters, the city has frozen all capital funding for new projects. That does not include all projects that exist and are already funded. All non-essential expenditures are also frozen until further notice.