Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Mayor and City Commissioners
FROM:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
CC:	Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Date:	July 8, 2010
RE:	Review of Overtime

Staff has drafted a comprehensive report regarding the City’s use of overtime.  The report outlines the use of overtime by department during 2009, identifies the City’s policies regarding overtime, estimates the main causes of overtime for the top five departments utilizing overtime, identifies overtime practices from area cities and governmental agencies, and provides possible recommendations regarding overtime policies and issues.

Recommended Next Steps:

I have reviewed the report and it has been initially discussed with the City staff’s executive team.  At this point, I would recommend that we aim to make the City’s overtime policies more uniform and consistent where appropriate recognizing the different jobs and roles of the departments.  In addition, I think that a number of the report’s other recommendations merit further discussion and review.  I believe that prior to the implementation of any changes, additional discussions with City employees should occur.  Also, as indicated in the overtime report, Memoranda of Understanding with the police and fire employee groups are in place through 2011 and any changes in overtime would be subject to discussions and agreement with those groups.  Any changes in overtime policy would require approval from the City Commission.

I am planning on appointing an employee task force for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the information in the report.  City Commission participation is encouraged.  Once the employee task force has held discussions on this matter, I plan to report back on my recommendations to the City Commission regarding possible changes.