On the Docket
- Council defers acceptance of $1.5 million in federal funds for individual shelter spaces
- Funds allocated for polygraph testing services, despite questions about utility
- Council hesitant to waive residency requirements to help close staffing gaps in the Parking Authority
Council defers acceptance of $1.5 million in federal funds for individual shelter spaces
A 4-week hold was placed on a bill addressing the construction of non-congregate shelters by the city in partnership with Auberle. The bill would accept $1.5 million from a federal housing program to provide private, individual shelter spaces for people in need, rather than group shelter settings. No reason was given for the hold.
Funds allocated for polygraph testing services, despite questions about utility
The City is set to approve $25,000 annually for three years to Aured Polygraph Services Inc. to provide polygraph services for the Office of Municipal Investigations, a separate department from the Police.
- Councilperson Warwick expressed concerns about the accuracy of polygraphs and the psychological impact on employees who undergo these tests at work.
- Councilperson Coghill noted that polygraph results do not hold up in court as evidence.
- The bill passed, with Warwick dissenting.
Council hesitant to waive residency requirements to help close staffing gaps in the Parking Authority
The Parking Authority currently has 22 of its 44 required enforcement officers and 33 of its 53 garage attendants. Executive Director David Onorato proposed lifting city residency requirements as an immediate solution, while Councilman Wilson and others advocated for wage increases (the current maximum wage is $21/hour) before removing these requirements.
- A wage increase would be complicated because union contracts expire at the end of 2025, and raising wages would affect the recently passed budget.
- Council members Charland, Warwick, and Wilson expressed concerns about removing residency requirements before exploring other solutions, such as improved recruitment and higher wages. The Authority plans to vote on lifting residency requirements next week.