The DeKalb City Council voted Monday to approve a side letter allowing four municipal workers to retire by June.

An item added to the council’s agenda by City Manager Mark Biernacki addressed the pending retirement of four American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) members, as well as one management position. The memo said eight employees were offered retirement options and five accepted.

The city is also looking to meet the target goal of 20 planned layoffs by eliminating five other positions which, though in the budget, are currently empty. This puts the number of sought layoffs at 10.

Tyler Brown, staff representative for AFSCME, thanked the municipal employees taking the retirement option.

“I personally feel these meetings have been very productive,” Brown said, speaking before the council. “There are times we have to come together for a common purpose.”
Brown and AFSCME Local 813 President Mike Taylor spoke to a packed council chamber, with union members and their supporters filling seats for the third council meeting in a row.

Taylor spoke of his early experience with the city and asked the council to consider any emergency action which could be acted on as an alternative to layoffs.

Biernacki’s memo said the city staff will be bringing plans to address the remaining shortfall, including possible tax increases, before the council in the coming month. However, Biernacki stated, tax increases alone will not solve this issue.

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