Board of Aldermen 04-27-2021 Page 7
Alderwoman Lu
Director Kleiner could you just tell me again. Did you say that —- understand some people choose not to be vaccinated
possibly. Has everyone that wants to be vaccinated been able to be vaccinated in planning for this change?
Director Kim Kleiner
Certainly. So Alderman Clemons is correct. | mean there are members depending upon when you're age class or
qualified for the vaccination where you may not have received your second shot. For instance | just received my second
on Sunday from the Public Health Department. So thank you very much to them and kudos to them. He is correct. There
are members depending upon when you became eligible to sign up where you may be just reaching that second shot
status. We cannot require our employees to become vaccinated but we certainly do as our Public Health Department and
the administration does, we recommend it.
Alderwoman Lu
A follow up please?
President Wilshire
Yes.
Alderwoman Lu
So I’m still not clear whether — so could someone choose not to get vaccinated...okay thank you.
Alderman Clemons
I’m all set. Thank you.
Alderman Jette
Thank you Madam Chairman. I'm a little conflicted here because | think Alderman Clemons has brought up some good
points but here again here we are in a situation where this policy change | believe has not gone through a committee. It’s
coming to us directly. I’m not sure that — | thought when | first read it it sounded pretty routine. It sounded like everybody
was on board with it. I’m wondering Alderman Lopez also brought out a good point.
Ms. Kleiner said that the Board of Health was consulted. I'd feel better if there was someone from the Board of Health or
at least at this meeting that could confirm that. I’m wondering whether or not it would be appropriate to refer this to a
committee I’m assuming Personnel Committee to review this. If | could ask Ms. Kleiner what is the effect of this? Does
this mean that employees who for whatever reason don’t feel safe coming into work can they continue to work remotely or
do they have to come to work if they choose not to come to work they have to use whatever time is — vacation time or
personal time whatever. | think you pointed out whatever their collective bargaining agreements might provide. Could
you clarify us on that? What is the full effect of this? | understand the part about the city not having to pay people who
cannot come to work because of COVID. Could you just clarify that issue forme? Thank you.
Director Kim Kleiner
Yes certainly. So if | may just - our apologies. So the original policy and both amendments since the original policy were
communicated the same way to the Board through a communication. So we did the same in this instance. | do just want
to clarify it was not the Board of Health that was consulted, it was the Director of Public Health that was consulted. This
does not change an employee’s ability to work remotely. The policy on employees working remotely is still through the
administration. There are some departments that continue to work remotely for various reasons. They will still be paid to
work remotely as they are phased back into City Hall for various different reasons. That still worked with the Division
Director and the administration. It has no effect on if an employee is working remotely due to those reasons.
This is strictly if an employee has been exposed to COVID-19, or is experiencing symptoms, and they are quarantined,
and they are required to work within City Hall and not remotely, they would not be eligible for what we call the “COVID-19
paid leave” which pays them their salary not to work if that helps.
