MLK day to be paid city holiday in Geneva

Geneva will likely make Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day a paid city holiday.

But the measure just barely passed through the city council's committee of the whole, with several aldermen saying they couldn't support adding a holiday when the city is cutting pay and freezing hiring to save money.

"In light of the current budget crisis and economic times, this is something I cannot in favor of," said Alderman Ray Pawlak, saying his vote was not a reflection on the work of the late civil rights leader.

Alderman Richard Marks asked if street department workers would get extra holiday pay, if they get called in to plow snow. When told "yes," he, too, said he would not support the addition. Essential police personnel who work those days would receive more pay, too. Aldermen Marks, Dantino, Pawlak, Brown and Flanagan voted against the measure. Aldermen Singer, Vogelsberg, Piper, Maladra and Hill voted for it. Mayor Kevin Burns said he "proudly" cast the tie vote in favor.

The matter will be officially voted on at the Dec. 21 city council meeting.

The issue came up while the mayor and administrator were making the city council calendar for 2010. They noted that the council normally does not meet on that holiday, but that city employees had to work.

Pawlak said he had never been asked about moving the meeting to the next day, which has been the practice, and that if he had been, he would not have agreed.

The holiday would be observed by all non-union full-time employees. It would not apply to unionized employees, because it was not included in their current contracts. There are unionized workers in the fire and electrical department.

Burns said the holiday should be "day of committing themselves" to doing something that improves the community, in response to a statement that it would be "another day off."

King "did a lot for this community, despite people thinking otherwise," Burns said, adding Geneva was "way behind the curve" in having the holiday.

There are currently 10 paid holidays for the non-union, full-time employees.