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WASA updating policy manual

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizen.com

The Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority is updating its personnel policy manual, and many of the changes focus on operations of the agency’s vehicle fleet.

The authority tabled action on the matter at Monday night’s meeting after determining more information was needed on the wording of a specific part of the policy that forbids employees from driving WASA vehicles while even remotely intoxicated.

There was a little disagreement about another part of the policy that would allow General Manager Larry Turner to use discretion in allowing WASA employees to take home company vehicles in special circumstances. Turner said such instances happen “maybe once a year” and typically because an employee works a full or partial regular shift and then goes home before returning later that night.

Turner said the decision is made in those cases to allow the vehicle to be driven home because the employee is being ordered to work odd hours and shouldn’t be penalized by having to drive back and forth to work twice in one day.

WASA board member Mike Harman argued that Turner shouldn’t have that discretion, that such a policy would allow for claims of discrimination to be brought forward by other employees who weren’t allowed to take their vehicles home.

Harmon also noted that the authority could be held liable if an employee gets in a deadly wreck on his way home in a company car.

Other board members said if Turner makes a poor decision when allowing an employee to take a vehicle home, the board can discipline him or fire him if necessary.

The new policy manual also clarifies the authority’s armed services policy. The authority will pay the difference between an employee’s military pay and their actual salary during the time they serve on active duty. Also, the authority will make sure that raises are factored in just as if the employee was working with WASA.

Another change in the manual would also require that Turner get approval from WASA for all out-of-state travel.

The board is expected to reconsider the manual at its next meeting.