CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening approved an emergency resolution that will exclude the city’s public safety and public works employees from the recently passed Family First Corona Response Act (FFCRA). The federal act increases the availability of paid family and medical leave and expands the reasons for which an employee might take such leave, while making provision for the exclusion of certain employees such as emergency responders, when large scale employee absences could render a business unable to continue operations.
With the stated purpose of maintaining enough workforce to continue operations of vital city services, the council voted to exclude employees of the following city departments:
- Police Department
- Fire Rescue Department
- Sanitation Department
- Wastewater Treatment Department
- Water and Sewer Departments
- Street Department
- Engineering Department
- City Garage
- Information Technology Department
- Human Resources Department
Temporary raise given and child care offered
“In recognition of the contributions of the employees of these departments to the public health, safety and welfare,” according to the resolution, the council also approved a five percent pay stipend for all employees of those departments for a 12-week period beginning on Apr. 1.
Councilman Johnny Cook also announced that the city is hosting a day camp at the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday for the children of city employees. The camp is free of charge, but children will need to bring a sack lunch. Cook stated that activities will follow social distancing rules, including not having more than 10 children in one area at a time.
After the meeting, Mayor Woody Jacobs said city departments have already enacted measures such as having outgoing and incoming employees use different doors at shift changes, and modifying shift schedules to make sure that all responsibilities are met, but within COVID-19 response protocols.
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