Board OKs leave policy

DUNKIRK — The city now has a paid leave policy in place after one of its employees was exposed to the coronavirus.

Dunkirk Board of Works and Public Safety on Thursday approved a plan to give city employees two weeks’ paid time off if they have the virus, have been exposed to it or are caring for a family member with the virus.

According to Mayor Jack Robbins, the spouse of a city employee was exposed to the virus at their workplace. The city employee is currently quarantining and planning on getting tested for COVID-19.

Robbins raised the possibility of providing paid leave for city employees who have to quarantine during the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that anyone who has close contact with someone who has the coronavirus should stay home for 14 days.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur explained that the board could amend Dunkirk’s personnel policy on an emergency basis to allow for the paid leave. Dunkirk City Council can ratify the amendment at its next meeting and determine how to pay for it.

Schemenaur suggested that Dunkirk follow the guidelines of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act when determining who would be eligible for paid leave.

According to the federal acts, certain employers are required to provide two weeks of paid sick leave at the regular rate of pay for employees who are quarantined because of exposure to the virus or because they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. They will also pay their employees for two weeks at their regular pay rate if they are caring for someone who has the virus.

As a result of the emergency personnel amendment, Dunkirk employees will receive paid sick leave for a two-week quarantine, if necessary. As they will be required to get a negative COVID-19 test result before returning to work, the city will also pay for any additional time off while awaiting those results.

The board also discussed having the amendment apply retroactively to any employees who have previously taken coronavirus-related time off.

To help offset those and other related costs incurred as a result of the pandemic, the city will be seeking reimbursement from the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund established in the CARES Act.

In other business, board members Robbins and Dan Watson, absent Lisa Street, approved several invoices: $10,745.58 to Brown Equipment Company for electrical repairs to the sewage department’s vacuum truck; $1,032.22 to BL Anderson for a vent fan for the sewage plant; and $783.82 to K & L Tractor Sales for repairs to a city mower.