City Council Brief

The topics dominating the discussion at the City Council meeting held Oct. 3 were the hiring and projected hirings of Glasgow Police Department employees, city union negotiations, and City Council transparency. Other items discussed were the Levee Safety Committee’s meeting with Senator Steve Daines, whose assistance will be needed in securing federal funding, in the tune of millions, to update the Milk River Levee

Assistant Chief Gault’s opening word during his department report to the council was “busy”. Gault commented on overtime use, officer injuries and positions needed to fill, which is why it was seemingly a relief to Gault that the council approved for hire Officer Timothy Fisher to the Glasgow Police Department. In addition to the new hire, Gault was looking to hire more officers in the coming weeks and received approval to post job descriptions and hire for an evidence technician and administrative assistant.

The council also discussed the ongoing union negotiations. In addition to the added benefits of full health care and the longevity stipend provided, the union wanted the council to up their salary increase from 35 cents to 50 cents in the new contract. The council stood firm to their original offer of a 35 cents an hour increase. The negotiations have been an apparently long running issue at City Council meetings with the union initially countering the terms with a one dollar raise, eventually arriving at the current counter-offer to which the city has more-or-less held firm to their original offer.

The final piece of new business discussed was the City Council’s publication of City Council meeting minutes in The Glasgow Courier, citing concerns from residents that the minutes are not published in the paper. Mayor Erickson did comment that the minutes are available on the city website, but felt that being diligent in getting information to the public was crucial, to which the council agreed. Mayor Erickson commented on the decision to publish the minutes with, “It’s our obligation as government to be transparent. It’s our responsibility to get information to the people, and I’m really proud of the transparency of our council.”