County Council hears sick leave policy concerns
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — When is a sister or brother considered immediate family? For Summit County employees, it’s when that sibling dies and the employee needs to use sick leave to attend the funeral.
But if that same sibling needed care while alive, the county employee would not be allowed to take sick time to help them, according to a currently proposed county ordinance.
Summit County Council was prepared to approve the legislation amending a section of the county’s ordinances titled “Leaves of Absence” at its meeting April 3, but objections were raised by Shelley Davis, chief of staff for Summit County Fiscal Officer John Donofrio. The amendment is meant to clarify what “immediate family” means.
“It’s almost anti-family legislation,” said Davis, citing several examples from her own office where employees needed to take sick time to care for ill relatives.
The amended ordinance that the
council’s Personnel Committee recommended for
passage defines immediate family for purposes of using
sick leave for a funeral
as the employee’s spouse, child, father, mother,
sister, brother, half-brother, half-sister, grandparent,
grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and legal
guardian who stands in place of a parent.
But the legislation also states
that in the case of an employee using sick leave due
to a family member’s illness or injury, immediate
family is considered to
be the employee’s spouse, children, parents or
grandchildren.
“I speak for our employees
on this issue,” Davis said. “The definition
needs to be expanded to fit today’s family.”
Council agreed to send the amended
ordinance back to committee for discussion April 10.
In other business during the
meeting, council did not act on a resolution
confirming appointments and reappointments
to the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning
and Development Organization (NEFCO). During its meeting
March 27, the Personnel Committee declined to make a
recommendation on the matter after Councilman Nick Kostandaras
(D-District 1) was not reappointed to the board.
Councilman Pete Crossland (D-District
4) appeared interested
in taking the resolution to a vote.
“I think most of us are
not in favor of it,” Crossland said.
But Councilman Paul Gallagher
(D-at large) suggested waiting, since the appointments
did not need to be made yet.
Council kept the legislation
on second reading.
Council also heard first reading
of legislation that will
amend the county’s restrictions on the sale of
cold medications containing pseudoephedrine. The legislation
is in response to the state’s recent adoption
of Senate Bill 53, which regulates the sale of these
products, which are used in illegal drug manufacturing
operations. The new state law will go into effect May
17.
The amended legislation will
bring the county’s ordinance in line with the
state law.
Council also heard first reading
on a resolution allowing a grant application for
State Issue 1 funds for storm sewer improvements along
and adjacent to a section of Smith Road in Bath Township.
Summit County Council is scheduled
to meet for committee meetings April 10 at 4:30 p.m.
in council chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio
Building, 175 S. Main St.
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