Trustees Switch Gears on Employee Vehicle Talks

Last month, the majority of trustees seemed to agree on a to the employee vehicle policy: they would grandfather in every employee who currently receives a village vehicle or vehicle allowance, and consider each new hire on a case-by-case basis.

But on Monday night, the Village Board rejected that plan, voting it down 4-2, and began discussing the issue anew.

Trustees began looking at the vehicle policy as a way to save money.  According to Finance Director Jeff Zoephel, the village currently spends roughly $6,072 per year on fuel for take-home vehicles for four employees: Public Works Director Mike Pubentz, Police Chief Daniel Meyers, and two other members of the police department.

Additionally, Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura gets $7,200 a year in vehicle expenses, as guaranteed by contract, while Zoephel gets $1,200 a year. Former Community Development Director Jane Tompkins also received $1,200 a year, but she resigned last month, and her position has not been filled.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting last month, three of the five attending trustees agreed to grandfather in existing employees, allowing all of the above to keep their vehicles and allowances. Trustee Stan Bond was not present for that meeting, but voiced his opposition to the idea on Monday.

“I am troubled by encumbering the board with the perceived need to grandfather, and honor existing contracts,” he said. “If the board wanted to make a policy of no vehicle allowances, that would affect everyone using one.”

Trustee Bill Keck reversed his position on grandfathering, saying he had heard from several residents about the issue.

“I see (employee vehicles) as an absolute necessity for the police, and that’s where I draw the line,” he said.

Trustees Matt Brolley and Denny Lee voted for the plan as discussed last month, but the other four trustees voted against it. Once the vote was over, talks began again on the policy, and how to handle it.

The spotlight Monday was shone on Pubentz, who lives in Ottawa, 45 miles from Montgomery. Trustee Pete Heinz again raised his objection to Pubentz driving a village vehicle that many miles each day.

Trustee Andy Kaczmarek again raised the suggestion of requiring employees who take vehicles home to live within a certain distance of Montgomery’s village limits. Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura pointed out that this option was presented to the board last month, and rejected.

Brolley said he would like to examine all options again, and deal with the issue comprehensively. Bond suggested trustees could each provide their own ideas, and discuss them at an upcoming meeting.

The issue is not on the agenda for Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole, but could be discussed at the next COW meeting, on Oct. 18.