GALT, CA (MPG) - Personnel matters, commission appointments and a donation were the highlights of a light March 17 Galt City Council meeting.

On the personnel side, council approved two side-letter agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 39 modifying and changing the Wastewater Operator-In-Training (OIT) position at the city’s plant. The letters also make changes to the city’s personnel manual to “ensure compliance with recently enacted legislation and to clarify internal practices consistent with arbitration standards and organizational needs,” according to the staff report.

Human Resources Director Tricia Cobey told council the first letter addresses a unit modification within the Local 39 bargaining unit that began from discussions around a vacant facilities maintenance supervisor position brought to council with another side letter last year. The city and union agreed to continue discussions on whether the position should be represented or excluded from the bargaining unit should another vacancy occur.

The new side letter confirms the city and union’s decision to remove the remaining supervisor classifications from the bargaining unit to the “Unrepresented Mid-Management Unit” and amend salary schedules accordingly.

The second letter modifies the salary range for the wastewater OIT classification previously established as a position but not included on the salary schedule as required by state law. The four individuals currently in this position are paid at a salary equivalent to a Wastewater Operator I, which has higher minimum qualifications than the OIT position.

The letter establishes a lower salary range for future OIT employees. The four current employees will be paid at the established salary until they either move to a higher position or “separate from employment,” after which the rate will be removed.

Additionally, the equipment mechanic supervisor position has also been moved to the unrepresented classification, with an education incentive reduction from 10% to 5% and the difference being incorporated into the current employee’s salary.

“The restructuring of the bargaining unit does not increase overall compensation costs this fiscal year,” Cobey said.

Changes to the personnel manual include clearer definitions of promotion and transfer and adding the parks maintenance supervisor and equipment mechanic supervisor to the education incentive matrix.

Mayor Bonnie Rodriguez noted the city has had difficulty retaining people in the past, and she asked if staff felt these changes might compound that.

“We hope not,” Cobey said.

Council also approved the appointment of Nicole Hemenover to a seat on the city’s Commission on Aging. The appointment selection came from Councilmember Paul Sandhu due to the recent passing of long-time resident Phyllis Johnson, who Sandhu appointed in 2023.

Hemenover was selected from a pool of three candidates, all of whom Sandhu said were very qualified to serve. A nurse and resident who has raised her children in Galt, Hemenover has worked for over 20 years in senior care as a nursing director at assisted living communities and the past 10 years in units specializing in memory care.

Finally, during public comment on consent agenda items, council heard an overview of the local homeless services nonprofit Saint Martin Foundation. Started in 2022, the foundation operates a “transitional sober-living housing facility for people recovering from addiction and helping them reintegrate into society through housing, job assistance and recovery.”

President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Jackson told council Saint Martin’s mission is to reduce homelessness among male veterans and non-veterans who are transitioning from alcohol recovery programs.

“We help bridge the gap between recovery programs and independent living,” he said.

Jackson said since receiving their first resident in April 2023, the foundation has served 28 individuals. The house currently has six residents, with five employed while 16 of the 28 successfully completed their programs, of which 12 are employed and all but one “housed.”

“Housed means they either found housing of their own or they united with their family and are living with their family,” Jackson said, adding seven of the 28 are from Galt.

Jackson thanked the council for its support, including Councilmember Tim Reed who was requesting his $1,000 council-allotted public benefits fund be allocated to Saint Martin, an item part of the consent agenda approval.

Jackson also acknowledged the contributions made by Councilmember Shawn Farmer, who provided key assistance as the foundation began.

“If it wasn’t for the foundation, I don’t know if I’d still be clean; I don’t know if I’d still be living,” current Saint Martin resident Robert Jenkins told the council.

Jenkins said he spent 35 years in substance abuse, some of which included periods of homelessness. While on the street he met someone who knew of Saint Martin’s and advised him to reach out to them.

Jenkins said the program requires him to seek employment every weekday, volunteer at the Sunshine Food Pantry, perform nine hours of outpatient service at drug rehab and five alcoholics anonymous meetings weekly. Residents do their own chores, purchase and cook their own food and do their own laundry.

“Living in the house has been great,” Jenkins said. “I’m getting skills to live a life of sobriety and success and am being a part of society now.”