Aldermen talk about jobless claims on city

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen delved into a discussion about unemployment compensation claims during last week’s regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14.

In reviewing the city bills, Alderman Abby Patten raised concerns about $8,169 in unemployment claims that had been paid to former employees. At least one of those, she said the city administrator at the time had assured the board there would be no claim on because the employee had quit.

City Secretary Machiel Covey said her records show that employee was dismissed, and Patten and Alderman Debbie Roberts said the city should appeal the issue with the Texas Workforce Commission. Covey said she had done that already, and the commission had ruled against the city.

“We’re being blamed by the citizens and the paper for wasting $30,000 to fire Lambert [Little], but here is $8,169 that we didn’t even know about,” Patten said, addressing Mayor Larry Hicks and Covey.

Alderman Will Thompson said the issue was over since Covey had already appealed the claims.

“Once it’s been through arbitration, you’re done,” Thompson said.

The board later took up the city’s employee overtime policy again, and Roberts’ desire to see employees receive overtime compensation for emergency calls after hours and on weekends regardless of whether they have already put in 40 hours that week. Covey said she had checked with other cities to see if anyone paid overtime prior to an employee putting in 40 hours. After some discussion, the board agreed to take the issue up at a future meeting to try to craft a definite policy that would cover emergency compensation.

Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Chandra Eggemeyer gave the city a first quarter report on the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax and updated the board on CEDC activities, and Mayor Hicks reported on city projects and said the sanitation department had received a $13,500 grant for a new baler.