DECATUR — Christmas bonuses will be given to all full- time Decatur city employees and some part-time employees, city council members decided at a special meeting on Nov. 20.
The meeting was called after the Christmas bonus issue was accidentally left off the agenda for the Nov. 12 meeting.
City administrative assistant Kim Wilkins sent out an email on Nov. 15, asking if council members would approve of a $300 bonus for all full-time employees and a $150 bonus for all part-time employees.
City councilman James Jessen replied by email, asking for clarification as to whichemployees were counted as part-time, since firefighters and city council members are now considered employees.
The city council passed an ordinance last February making firefighters and city council members part-time employees for tax purposes and issuing them Internal Revenue Service W2 tax forms instead of 1099 miscellaneous income forms. Firefighters are paid $15 for each call they respond to, and city council members are paid $100 a month.
At the time, Linam told the council an IRS directive required firefighters and city council members to be counted as employees.
Linam presented a list of employees at the specialcouncil meeting on Nov. 20, to clarify “in black and white” which employees he would like to receive bonuses, he said. The list proposed that all full-time employees receive a $300 Christmas bonus. Linam also proposed that two parttime employees receive a $300 bonus - for reasons such as long hours of work and dedication - and two part-time employees receive a $150 bonus. Linam crossed himself off the list and said he would refuse a $300 bonus.
The total cost of the proposed Christmas bonuses would be $6,450 for 23 employees and was included in the city’s budget.
Jessen pointed out there are many more part- time employees that did not receive a bonus. He said he didn’t expect the council members to give themselves bonuses and expressed doubt that the 13 firefighters would receive part-time bonuses either.
Jessen serves as a Decatur firefighter and EMT but insisted that he did not want to receive a bonus if they were issued. It would cost an additional $1,950 to give the firefighters each a $150 bonus. No discussion of the cost was made at the meeting.
“But this is the way it's always been done in the past, right?” asked councilwoman Kim Goble of Linam’s proposal.
While examining the list, Jessen asked why the part-time police officers were not included. Linam said the officers haven’t had bonuses in the past, but Jessen disagreed and said they had.
“I don’t know why people who could get shot at don’t get a $150 bonus,” Jessen said.
“Well, we’ve never had a Decatur policeman shot at,” Linam replied.
Councilman David Sutton pointed out the police officers could be shot at any time. Linam replied the officers have chosen a dangerous line of work but conceded they should also have a Christmas bonus.
The council voted to approve Christmas bonuses for Linam’s proposed list of employees and gave the two part-time police officers a $150 bonus as well.
On Monday, Wilkins said there are actually three part-time police officers but added that they will all three get a $150 bonus.
(Editor’s note: Decatur Constable Lester Kenneth Setser was shot and killed while on duty in the city in 1951. Chief of police Richard Duncan was killed while on duty in a headon collision while driving his canine unit in 1998.)
News, Pages 1 on 11/28/2012