ARLINGTON — Police and fire personnel have joined the rest of the city’s employees in taking pay cuts to help Arlington through lean times.
By agreeing to trim holiday pay for the rest of the year, police officers and firefighters will save the city more than $100,000, city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.
Arlington’s sales tax revenue, which accounts for most of the income for the city’s general fund, is still about 16 percent below last year, Banfield said.
The Arlington City Council recently amended the employment contracts of department directors to include four unpaid holidays and eight unpaid furlough days — the same schedule for city staff members.
Employees are taking the unpaid time off in order to keep staffing and city services at current levels.
Police and fire union contracts were amended at the council’s meeting Monday following nearly three months of negotiations with union representatives.
“We have an amazing group of 150 employees who are truly dedicated to serving the people they work for, the citizens of Arlington,” Banfield said.
Police and fire personnel will continue to work on holidays and get paid, but not at time-and-a-half or double-time, Banfield said.
“I can’t thank our employees enough for their sacrifices,” Councilwoman Sally Lien said at the council meeting. “And they still provide a high level of service to our community.”
Also from the city:
n Arlington has hired a head-hunter service to find a replacement for city finance director Kathy Peterson, who is retiring at the end of the year after more than 40 years of service to the city.
Prothman Co., a Seattle firm that helps local governments find employees, will be paid about $20,000 to find a new finance director. The city most recently used Prothman to find its new police chief.
Depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications, the job pays between $100,000 and $125,000.
“The finance director is one of the most important jobs in the city,” administrator Allen Johnson said. “Finding qualified candidates is paramount.”
n The city of Arlington recently was honored for its workplace wellness program by the Association of Washington Cities.
Arlington was one of 34 cities and towns to be recognized for its fitness efforts, and is one of only two cities to get the award 10 years in a row.
If the city keeps it up, the wellness program could result in a 2 percent reduction in health insurance costs for those who participate in the program, Johnson said.
n Arlington Arts Commission member Laura Kuhl has been appointed to serve on the city’s hotel-motel tax distribution committee.
Kuhl plans to serve through April 2011. She replaces Sarah Arney, former Arlington Times reporter, on the commission.
The committee includes city officials, owners of lodging businesses and representatives of some of the tourist-related organizations that receive the tax funds. They make suggestions to the City Council regarding the use of the tax money.
In other city commission changes, Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission chairwoman Virginia Hatch is stepping down from her longtime leadership position. A replacement is being sought.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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