-from Mayor Dean Bunkers (note, the “$5000 voluntary Executive Salary refunds” is the portion of Bunkers’ salary he has been giving back):

To: City Librarian

In view of Library Board of Trustees decision to return $20,000 to the General Fund from the Library Funds and the City’s commitment to use $5000 of voluntary Executive Salary refunds, you are directed to rescind the layoff notice issued to Ms. Kelly Getty on 10 June 2009.

//s// Dean Bunkers, Mayor

A sidenote to the proposed layoffs: City labor contracts for Public Works and clerical workers (not police officers and firefighters, who go purely by senioritiy) allow for “bumping,” where staffing reductions are involved. It’s a fairly complicated process, with the contract language here:bumping

Says Mayor Dean Bunkers: “Bumping is only addressed in the Public Works and Clerical bargaining unit contracts.  Layoffs and rehires in the Police and F/F (firefighter) contracts are done strictly on a seniority basis.”

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.

(Didn’t show up properly in the last post)

Mayor Dean Bunkers and Teamsters representative Russ Walpole are scheduled to meet today at 11 a.m. Concessions from the Teamsters could save some or all of the five City employees who have received layoff notices, even if those are positions not represented by the Teamsters.

“It’s all connected across the board,” Bunkers said, late Monday. The City’s employees, he said, are “one big group and I’ve got to be fair with everybody.”

“The Ocean Shores Professional Firefighters local 2109 has come to an agreement with the City of Ocean Shores after long talks and negotiations. The firefighters have agreed to give up $28,000 for 2009 to keep 11 out of 12 positions. The firefighters are still trying to save the other position that was lost due to the budget shortfalls in the city. The other Firefighter /Paramedic position is contingent on an upcoming EMS type levy or other concessions made by other bargaining unions.

“The firefighters want the citizens to know how vital there emergency medical services are in this rural community. The other vacant position hurts and affects our services dramatically. Our number one priority is the health and safety of the one’s we serve.”

After sending out five layoff notices (one police officer, one library worker, a code enforcement/animal control officer, a library worker and a mechanic) early last week, Mayor Dean Bunkers sent a layoff notice to a second firefighter/EMS on Thursday. But, after negotiations with the union representing the firefighters, the second layoff notice has been rescinded, Bunkers announced today in a press release:

“The City of Ocean Shores gives a big ‘Thank You’ to the Ocean Shores Professional Firefighters/EMS Union Local 2109 for working with the City to ease the City’s financial strain.  Our Firefighters/EMS has agreed to forgo $28,000 in Holiday Pay for 2009.  Mayor Bunkers states that ‘this is a giant step towards easing the current budget shortfall and will rescind the most recent layoff notice.’  This leaves one outstanding layoff notice for the local firefighters.  The City is in discussions concerning all layoff notices.  By working together we can keep more employees working, and that is the City’s goal.”

Mayor Dean Bunkers said one more layoff notice is going out this week, bringing the total to six. He also said he has scheduled a meeting with Russ Walpole of the Teamsters next week.

In addition to the five layoff notices being mailed out to City employees, Mayor Dean Bunkers says “there’s a possibility of additional layoff notices coming out.” He expects to know by tomorrow if one more employee will be laid off.

These are all notices of layoffs in 30 days, he said.  ”I would love to be able to rescind those if the circumstances change,” Bunkers said. He added he is “working hard to come up with a plan” to take to Russ Walpole.

Walpole is the Teamsters representative who has said Bunkers did not offer anything in return for employees forgoing Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases, and/or furloughs.