The Salem City Council has approved a voluntary leave transfer program.
Mayor Nic Farley sees a lot of value in the program.
“The employees will be able to donate to a bank within their department that if somebody doesn’t have time and has a FMLA-qualified event, this will allow them to draw for the extra time,” Farley said. “We want to keep very good employees, and we think we have some of the best employees around. This is one of the good incentives that allows the employees to donate and help each other out. It could really mean something to someone who’s caught in a bad situation and make it a little easier for them.”
City officials say the idea began with Salem Police Chief Tyler Rose who had an employee potentially running out of paid time off due to a medical or family emergency and other department members wanting to help.
Under the program, an employee could donate 48 hours a year to the program provided they still had 40 hours if sick time to use themselves.
Farley said there was strong support for the program not only in city employees but from others who had benefited from a similar program at a business location.
The council approved submitting a request to IDOT to shutdown Route 37 and US 50 for the Little Egypt Festival and Parade the first weekend of October.
The council approved a one-year contract with XT Solutions LLC for computer services outside of the police department at a cost of $3,750 a month.
The council agreed to surplus property at 420 East Church and seek bids. The city demolished a home at that site a number of years ago.
Mike Pappas was appointed to the Board of Police Commissioners.
