Ordinance for city employees to be introduced at meeting

Monday, Aug. 2, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

A proposed ordinance that would prohibit city employees from being paid while running for elected office or while serving at the Nevada Legislature while it is in session will be introduced at Wednesday's Las Vegas City Council meeting.

"It puts into effect what the council has made policy," Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell said of the housekeeping bill that stems from the City Council's action in June redefining guidelines for city employees seeking and holding public office.

The policy shift resulted from city officials learning last fall that Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, then a city employee in the Neighborhood Services department, had claimed city pay for days on which the Legislature was in session.

Williams eventually was fired and his supervisor was transferred to another department.

The policy, effective Jan. 1, 2005, is aimed at state legislators but applies to all elected offices.

The bill in support of that policy says that an employee "who serves in the Nevada Legislature shall receive no city pay or benefits for the period of any regular or special legislative session, but may continue to receive insurance coverage if the employee directly pays the applicable premiums."

The bill also says, "a public employee who files for any political office will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence until the election.

"If service by a public employee in any political office is or appears clearly inconsistent, incompatible or in conflict with that person's duties as an employee of the city, as judged by the city manager, that employment must be terminated before the person assumes political office," the bill says.

Under the city's revised policy, an employee also must notify the city of his intent to file for office and take leave without pay or benefits and turn in city equipment as of the date of filing.

No action will be taken on the bill Wednesday. It instead will be assigned to a two-person City Council recommending committee which will meet at a later date when public comment will be heard. The matter then will be brought back to the full council at a regularly scheduled meeting for further comment and a vote.