Board of Aldermen 04-27-2021 Page 18
Alderwoman Lu
Just to follow up on that point. As | mentioned the other night, | understand that the hourly rate is being paid but my
concern is with how this may affect people who are retiring within the next couple of years and affect us.
President Wilshire
Anyone else?
Alderman Caron
May | speak on Alderwoman Lu’s concern about pensions?
President Wilshire
Yes absolutely.
Alderman Caron
If you’re in the State pension, your overtime unless you're a police officer or a fireman, your overtime does not count as
part of your pension results when you retire. It doesn’t matter how many hours they may work or getting for overtime, it
does not count unless they are a police officer or a fireman. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you.
Alderman Lopez
| just wanted to also clarify it was pointed out at the meeting by myself that the individuals running the clinic are largely
unaffiliated so they’re not looking two pensions or anything like that. | don’t know if the National Guard is who Alderman
Lu is referring to but they’re the only ones | can think of and | don’t think they get a pension either.
Alderman Clemons
Yes in regards to the overtime as well, we were told at the Budget Committee last night that according to our CFO who in
my opinion is one of the best in the country that I’ve seen which is why we have a AAA bond rating, said not to worry
about things like that mostly because the salaries are being paid by the federal government that we have and that
overtime is something that fluctuates and is really out of our control depending on the situation that we find ourselves in. |
think the need is there. | think the federal government recognizes that the need is there and | think it’s a very good thing
that we have qualified firefighters and qualified police officers who are certified and are the perfect type of personnel to
ask to work overtime and do vaccination clinics and other things that help out with the pandemic work. | think in that case,
| think the City is very lucky and if we end up paying somebody a little bit more in their pension that’s the cost of doing
business when there’s a pandemic. Hopefully we won't see another one of these for another 100 years.
Alderwoman Lu
May | follow up on that please?
President Wilshire
Alderwoman Lu.
Alder4woman Lu
| just want to make it clear that what I’m referring to is when we use skilled city workers for a job to do something that
does not require a skill. For instance picking up the sheet of paper that tells our vaccinated staff when they can leave,
telling people to go to that line, or this line. In fact, this is something that we can control. | understand Alderman Clemons
has stated that this is something that we can’t control but I’m only bringing it up because | feel it can be controlled and |
hope that rather that you’ll consider, just consider what I’m saying and consider with an open mind consider other options
that may save the city money. Thank you. I’m all set.
