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ORDINANCE NO. 5008
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City of
Bremerton, Washington, approving the Voluntary Separation and
Reduced Work Week Program.
WHEREAS, in an effort to accommodate budget constraints, City Council desires
to give departments the option to offer incentives to employees to voluntarily separate from
employment, either through retirement or resignation; and
WHEREAS, City Council also desires to give departments the ability to offer
employees the option to voluntarily reduce their work week schedule; and
WHEREAS, the proposed incentives will expire on March 31, 2009; NOW
THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BREMERTON, WASHINGTON,
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Voluntary Separation and Reduced Work Week Program
attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby approved.
SECTION 2. Severabilitv. If anyone or more sections, subsections, or
sentences of this ordinance are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance and the same shall remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force ten
(10) days from and after its passage, approval and publication as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council the l ${:;LJ day of '1:{~AJ , 2008
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Approved this OltUJJ day of ~At~ ,2008
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CARY BOZEMAN, Mayor
1
Voluntary Separation and
Reduced Work Week Program
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CAROL ET. , City. lerk
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BOVICH, City Attorney
ATTEST:
PUBLISHED the .J~day of ~
EFFECTIVE the S.r:J..; day of
ORDINANCE NO. .501oJ
,2008
,2008
R:\Legal\Legal\Ordinances\Finance\ Voluntary Separation Ord.doc
2
Voluntary Separation and
Reduced Work Week Program
Ordinance No.
Exhibit A
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CITY OF BREMERTON
VOLUNTARY SEPARATION AND REDUCED WORK WEEK PROGRAM
This program gives city departments the option to offer incentives to employees to voluntarily
separate from employment, either through retirement or resignation. City departments also may
offer employees the option to voluntarily work a reduced work week schedule.
I. GENERAL PARAMETERS OF THE PROGRAM
Purpose
In an effort to accommodate budget constraints, the voluntary separation and reduced work week
programs ("voluntary program") aim to reduce salary costs and FTE levels and make more
effective use of human resources while maintaining city services to its citizens.
Labor Agreements
Participation for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement depends on the
provisions of that agreement and approval of the respective labor union or guild.
Availability
The voluntary program is available through March 31, 2009. Requests for participation in this
program must be made by March 31, 2009.
Management Tools
The voluntary program is a management tool, not an employee right. No employee shall have a
contractual right to an incentive offered thr6ugh this program.
Participation and Eligibility
Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. To be minimally eligible for the voluntary
separation or the reduced work week program, an employee must have regular, full-time status
and be a non-probationary employee.
City Approval
Participation is subject to the employee's department director or designee and subject to the
review and approval ofthe Director of Financial Services, the Human Resources Manager and
the City Attorney.
Approval Criteria
City Approval is subject to consideration of the following criteria:
. Retention of adequate levels of skilled, talented workers in needed occupations and
locations.
. Retention of positions, occupations, and skills that are critical to achieving the
department's mission and priorities.
. Reduction of supervisory levels and overhead positions.
Page 1 of 4
Ordinance No. 5 O~~
Exhibit A
. Difficulty or cost of replacing employees with particular skill requirements or in certain
locations.
. Potential disruption due to the overall loss of experienced workers.
. Overall cost of the program.
. The voluntary program shall not be targeted on the basis of individual or personal factors.
Final approval for any employee utilizing this program is conditioned upon execution of a
written agreement between the city, the employee and respective labor union or guild as
applicable acknowledging the terms and conditions of the program implemented.
Unemployment Compensation
Employees accepting a voluntary separation are ineligible for unemployment compensation.
Repayment
Following a separation payment, any employee who returns to city service within five years (as
an employee or contractor) must repay the separation payment. An exception to this provision
may be granted, provided the department seeking to hire the former employee has sought and
gained approval from the Director of Financial Services and the Mayor prior to the date of hire.
Exceptions granted to this provision may require partial repayment of part of the incentive on a
pro-rata basis.
Effect on Retirement System
V oluntary separation options cannot propose or require changes to current pension statutes, and
cannot increase pension contribution rates. A separation payment must be a lump sum. It is
subject to applicable withholdings, but is not considered income for retirement (average final
compensation) purposes.
II. VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM
Program concept and Goals
The voluntary separation program gives departments the option to consider an employees request
to voluntarily separate from city employment through either retirement or resignation. The
program aims to reduce salary costs and FTE levels, as well as to facilitate redeployment,
reorganization, and other efforts to make more effective use of human resources.
This is not an early retirement program. It is not to be used to target employees on the basis
of individual or personal factors. Voluntary separation must result in cost savings to the city.
Basic Provisions
. V oluntary separation shall not be targeted on the basis of individual or personal factors.
. V oluntary separation will be subject to the terms and conditions of labor agreements as
applicable.
. Employees choosing to utilize the voluntary separation option will sign a form indicating
that their decision to participate is entirelv voluntary and that they fully understand the re-
employment and other restrictions.
. The request must result in a quantified on-going savings to the city.
Page 2 of 4
Ordinance No.
Exhibit A
5o~
. If the request results in a position vacancy, the position will not be eliminated however it
must be vacant for at least one (1) year unless otherwise approved by the City Council.
· If the requested separation results in a position with a reduced work schedule due to
infilling and other reassignments resulting in quantified on-going savings, the savings
from the change must be realized for one year unless otherwise approved by the City
Council.
. Union employees will receive a lump sum payment pursuant to the formula set forth in
BMC 2.50.090 as if an "at will" employee as outlined below
The employee shall receive severance pay upon separation based upon years of employment with
the City of Bremerton as follows:
· through 2 full years of employment, 2 months severance pay
· through 5 full years of employment, 2.5 months severance pay
· over 5 years of employment, 3 months severance pay
· In order to provide an incentive for management and professional staff, such employees
will receive a lump sum payment pursuant to the formula set forth in BMC 2.50.090 as
would normally be provided to them upon severance plus one additional month's
compensation.
III. VOLUNTARY REDUCED WORK WEEK PROGRAM
Program concept and Goals
The voluntary reduced work week program gives departments the option to consider an
employees request to voluntarily reduce their work week schedule to 32 hours per week. The
program aims to reduce salary costs, retain experienced workers, as well as to facilitate
redeployment, reorganization, and other efforts to make more effective use of human resources.
Basic Provisions
· The voluntary reduced work week shall not be targeted on the basis of individual or
personal factors.
· The voluntary reduced work week will be subject to the terms and conditions of labor
agreements as applicable.
· Employees choosing to accept a voluntary reduced work week will sign a form indicating
that their decision to participate is entire Iv voluntary and that they fully understand the
restrictions.
· If an employee voluntarily accepts a 32 hour work week, the position will remain
authorized as a full time 40 hour per week position.
· If an employee voluntarily accepts a reduction in work hours to a 32 hour work week, the
employee cannot reinstate the 40 work week schedule for one (1) year unless otherwise
approved by the Mayor. Thereafter, the employee has the right to reinstate the 40 work
week schedule at any time. The City can reinstate the 40 hour work week schedule at any
time when it is in the best interests of the City.
· Upon acceptance of a reduced work week, the employees pay, vacation and sick leave
Page 3 of 4
Ordinance No. tJo" 0
Exhibit A
and other benefits related to hours worked are reduced accordingly. Medical, dental and
vision (if applicable) benefits are not reduced. The employee's retirement is also affected
due to the reduction in hours worked.
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Page 4 of 4
AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION
Account # 42742 / Ad # 241913
ST ATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF KITSAP
I, Laura Wessels, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and says: That she is now, and at all times
embraced in the publication herein mentioned was the principal clerk of the printers and publishers of
KITSAP SUN; that said newspaper has been approved as a legal newspaper by order of the Superior Court
of the County of Kitsap, in which County it is published and is now and has been for more than six months
prior to the date of the publication hereinafter referred to, published in the English language continually as
a daily newspaper in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington, a weekly newspaper in Kitsap County,
Washington and is now and during all of said time, was printed in an office maintained in the aforesaid
place of publication of said newspaper; that the following is a true text of a legal advertisement as it was
published in regular issues (and not in supplement form) of said newspaper on the following date, to wit:
November 25,2008 and that such newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscribers during all of said
period. That the full amount of the fee charged for the foregoing publication is the sum of $26.74. The
amount has not been paid in full.
P~AA{~W
(Signature ofprincipal Clerk)
~
Notary Public in and for the State of Washington, Kits p County.
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AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington, approving the Voluntary
Separation and Reduced Work Week Program.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of November 28,2008.
ORDINANCE NO. 5068
PASSED by the City Council the 19th day of November, 2008.
The full text ofthis ordinance is available from the City Clerk's Office, 345 Sixth Street, Suite 600,
Bremerton, W A 98337.
November 25, 2008...................AD #20080172