Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Derby City Council wants more time before deciding whether to dissolve the city's police and firefighters' unions.

City Manager Kathy Sexton has recommended the council reverse a 1987 decision to bargain with employees under the Kansas Employer-Employee Relations Act and instead use what she called employee advisory boards.

Separate boards, Sexton said, would represent the police department, the fire department and other city departments. Those boards would work with city leaders on changes in benefits, salary, working conditions and hours. Sexton said the use of the advisory boards would be more time-efficient and cost-effective for the city.

During a public hearing Tuesday evening, seven people urged the council not to withdraw from the collective bargaining agreement. Nobody spoke in favor of the proposal. Still, Sexton said she has received support for the proposal from community members.

After the hearing, the council voted unanimously to table the proposal until its Nov. 27 meeting.