Not on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, safety procedures among city workers developed into a topic for discussion for the City and Borough Assembly.
After delivering her regular borough manager’s report, Lisa Von Bargen took a moment to absorb additional input from members and answer any questions. Member Stephen Prysunka revisited a longstanding complaint about laxness among public employees regarding the use of seat belts and other protection while on the job. Examples extend to not wearing protective headgear at the boatyard, and recently noticing a lack of sufficient protection while the line crew used chainsaws.
“It’s the law, it’s (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards, and it must be adhered to,” Prysunka stated.
Von Bargen confirmed that adherence to safety persists as a problem, though one overshadowed of late by other concerns. However, the city has had five workers’ compensation claims of varying degrees over the past three weeks – the most recent incident involving an employee being admitted to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Assembly member Rolland Howell expressed concern city departments were not having regular safety meetings either, which in his own line of work is standard practice. Meeting minutes are further circulated for employees’ reference as a matter of encouraging safety mindfulness.
Remembering extensive labor negotiations that concluded only last summer, member David Powell pointed out safety meetings were required on a monthly basis as part of the city’s collective bargaining agreement reached with the employees’ union.
“We’re going to wind up in a real jam as a community here,” Prysunka commented, regarding the potential liabilities involved.
Von Bargen agreed department supervisors should be holding those meetings, adding that a safety committee with representatives from each department would be helpful for making policy recommendations.
“There needs to be a paradigm shift,” she agreed. “It’s imperative that I make safety a greater priority.”
Powell wanted to see some progress on the issue by the end-of-month meeting. There was general agreement that department heads take more of a lead in enforcing workplace safety policies.
In other borough business, Von Bargen reported the city’s elevated water conservation watch was lowered as of Tuesday afternoon.
“Both of the reservoirs are full to overflowing,” she said.
In March persistently dry and wintry conditions contributed to low reservoir levels, coupled with heavier than typical water demand. Part of that elevated draw was suspected to be due to leaks somewhere in the lines, and a contractor was enlisted to run some pressure tests.
“Our leak detection work was finished a couple of weeks ago, and they found two substantive leaks,” said Von Bargen.
One was located and repaired in an afternoon, estimated to be releasing between 20 and 30 gallons per minute, or up to 1.3 million gallons per month.
The other leak has been tracked to a line on Bennett Street. Because it leads to the hospital, senior housing and elementary school, however, a potable water bypass would be necessary to continue service during the repair.
“The equipment is on order,” Von Bargen said. She added the fire department would need to be on the alert as well due to reduced flow while the fix goes on. How long it would take to complete is unknown at the moment.
“It depends on what they get into once they dig down,” she said.
In the meantime, the city is back to a Stage I level water watch, during which residents are advised to be mindful of their usage.
A budget draft is also getting close to being finalized. Von Bargen met with department heads and the finance director last week to go over requests.
“We anticipate over the next week and a half going through the maintenance budget,” she said, expecting to have a draft budget ready to review by the assembly’s next regular meeting, on April 24. It will come together for a specially-called meeting this evening at 5:30, to discuss updates to the city’s finance plan and related bid items needed for the Shoemaker Bay Harbor refurbishment’s bond application package.
Submitted application to be an “opportunity zone,” designation (1 of 25 in Alaska) that through the previous tax bill could offer tax incentives. She anticipates Walker could make a decision by sometime next week
Lastly, returning resident Loretto Jones was appointed to serve on the Port Commission, one of two applicants to fill a vacancy there. She will remain in the post until October.
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