City rejects extra personal day

SANDPOINT — An eclectic mix of issues and speedy deliberations occupied the City Council’s attention Wednesday night.

After authorizing the consent calendar and an interim financing bond for the upcoming overhaul of the waterworks system, the council narrowly rejected a proposal that would give city employees an extra personal day.

Councilwoman Marsha Ogilvie saw the resolution as a token of gratitude for their hard work.

“I’ve been assured this is the least expensive way to show our appreciation,” she said.

Public safety proved central to the debate. Council members wondered how the police and fire departments would adopt the extra time off.

“I can schedule and approve the extra time off to times that would have the least amount of impact,” Police Chief Mark Lockwood said.

Alterations were more complicated for the fire department since employees operated on 24-hour work shifts as opposed to eight hours.

“The changes would just have to be scheduled and coordinated,” Fire Chief Robert Tyler said.

Despite a close vote, the council didn’t approve the proposal. Despite the vote, Mayor Gretchen Hellar hoped employees would remember city officials’ past efforts to protect jobs and salaries.

The council also approved the latest draft of the police department’s long-term plan. Members gave the document a warm review, congratulating Lockwood and the department on their hard work. Councilwoman Carrie Logan noted that, whether justified or not, police behavior had been a chief complaint at the public forum and wondered if the document addressed it. The plan’s emphasis on increased public outreach initiatives covered those concerns, Lockwood said.  

Finally, the council authorized Tyler to pursue efforts in acquiring a new fire engine. The new apparatus became possible thanks to a grant application written by Fire Capt. Michael Gow and would allow the city to acquire a new $280,000 engine while only paying $14,000. Tyler plans to cover the city’s share using next year’s impact fees.

“All the credit really goes to Captain Gow,” he said.