City Council approve of COVID-19 leave policy

BONNERS FERRY — City Council conducted the first meeting to start the year with Mayor Richard Staples absent but council members Rick Alonzo, Ron Smith, Adam Arthur attended in person and Valerie Thompson attended through zoom.

The council considered an extension and revision to the City employee COVID-19 leave policy; the revision would remove the Family Medical Leave act from the policy.

According to the memo given to the council, the COVID-19 relief bill signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 27, 2020, does not mandate the inclusion of FMLA benefits.

The extension would go until March 31, which would then be reevaluated as the date approaches. The date is in hope that the COVID-19 vaccine will be readily available to city employees.

City Administrator, Lisa Ailport wrote, “Should this not be the case, then reviewing extension of the policy for another 3 months, maybe warranted at that time.”

Paid time off is budgeted each year and COVID-19 time is paid through reserves and contingency accounts.

The COVID-19 leave policy will allow employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and can provide proof of testing are eligible for a maximum of 30 days to recover. The City will not require employees to use their PTO as part of this policy.

Councilmember Ron Smith expressed concerns about placing vulnerabilities on employees who need sick leave, especially since COVID-19 has been unpredictable. Those concerns were addressed in the discussion, stating that there wouldn’t be a significant impact on employees who catch COVID-19.

The quorum voted in favor of the revised policy with the chance to look at the policy at the end of March.

Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with JUB Engineering for the Moyie Hydro spillway project and the letter of participation and support of the pending update of the Boundary County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.