Mayor, Teamsters meet

Ocean Shores Mayor Dean Bunkers and Teamsters representative Russ Walpole met again Tuesday. With a rising deficit, Bunkers is looking to save upwards of $250,000 from the 2009 budget, and asking for concessions from the Teamsters 60 City employees. “I thought it was a very good discussion,” Bunkers said, Wednesday afternoon. “We agreed on two things. One, it’s really a General Fund problem, so we should (focus) on personnel who work in the General Fund.”

This could exclude Public Works employees in the Water/Utility departments from possible layoffs.

“And the Teamsters suggested they have somebody out of their office validate the City’s (financial) position,” Bunkers said. The mayor said he was happy to open the City’s financial books to the Teamsters. Bunkers said this will happen at a meeting on June 23.

Walpole confirmed Tuesday’s meeting took place. “We’re continuing with discussions,” he said, choosing not to go into details.