Ortonville- Village Manager Ed Coy has denied a grievance filed by recently terminated DPW workers Bill Prince and Kevin Booms, who are represented by Teamsters Local 214.
‘Our position is that they were discharged for just cause,? said Coy, who answered the grievance on Feb. 13. ‘They have a right to appeal to the next step? the village personnel committee.?
Prince was terminated on Jan. 29 and Booms on Feb. 2. Since that time, the village has had two companies do work in the village? Hi Hill Lawn Service, which is listed in Lake Orion, provided snow removal on Jan. 30 and on Feb. 21, CM Construction of Oxford plowed snow from the village sidewalks and streets.
‘They did a darn good job,? said Coy, who adds that he set the work up in advance after requesting quotes, looking at the equipment and manpower of several companies and having them quote several tasks, and went with the most reasonable bids.
He had not yet received the bill from CM Construction, but said it was to be in the range of $2,500 if they did everything they bid for. Hi Hill was paid about $1,500 for salting and a partial plowing.
Coy also expected Jerry Sherman of Mid-Michigan Sealcoating in Ortonville to patch potholes this week, as many as he could get to, at a bid of about $200 per ton for patch. He estimated Sherman would use 3-4 tons.
Coy believes that it has been more economical for the village to use the contractors, since they are only paid when they work, as opposed to the DPW, who are paid 40 hours every week regardless of how many tasks need to be performed.
The DPW budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009 is $208,377 and includes wages, overtime, benefits, equipment, salt, fuel, upgrading supplies (oil, rags, etc.) building maintenance, equipment maintenance, phones, electric and heat at the DPW garage and new equipment. As of Jan. 31, the village had used 46 percent of the budget.
Teamsters Local 214 Business Representative Les Barrett said he was shocked the village denied the grievance and he has filed an appeal with the personnel committee for a hearing, but has not yet heard a reply.