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Show "pqpfinnit Page A2 Thursday, September 18, 1986 Park Record Commissioners face labor pains Fr th& Meendl Ask the Summit County Commissioners these days about their seniority policy as it relates to maternity leave and what you're apt to get is a rather pregnant pause. You see, depending on who you are and when you left and which department you work for, the policy seems to vary. The issue wasn't much of an issue until the county this year implemented a vacation and sick leave policy based bas-ed on years of service. Linda Smith, an employee of the county since 1974, discovered her starting date had been changed to 1980, based on when she returned to work for the county after taking her second maternity leave. The change doesn't amount to much about an extra week of vacation time and a few more days of sick leave. It is the principle involved that has Smith, county attorney at-torney Robert Adkins and numerous female county employees angered. And then there is the issue of fairness. A secretary in the county offices is due with her child any day now. She will receive seven days sick leave with her full salary. After that she will be on disability and be given 60 percent per-cent of her salary. She will not lose her starting date with the county and she has been promised her same job when she returns. What all this is breeding is great deal of discontent among female employees who feel Smith (and as it turns out several, so far quiet, others) is being discriminated against. The county attorney has explained to the commissioners commis-sioners no less than four separate times that changing Smith's starting date due to pregancy leaves is illegal, but the commissioners refuse to budge. The case has now, at Adkins request, been sent to Utah Labor Commission's Com-mission's anti-discrimination division for a decision. But Commissioner Blonquist says regardless of the state's decision he won't change his stand. "It is a moot point." It is a somewhat complicated case-because Smith has worked as a dispatcher for the Sheriff's office, a highly trained position where temporaries are not used, there was not always a job open when Smith was ready and Editorial able to return to work. Once she applied for unemployment unemploy-ment during a maternity leave because there was no position open for her. She recalls she was rehired by the county fulltime when another pregnant dispatcher left the post. At no time during either of her leaves did Smith receive sick pay or disability from the county. Adkins cites a 1978 amendment to the Civil Rights Act called the Pregancy Discrimination Act to suggest Smith could actually be in a position to claim wages she would have earned during her second leave. When Smith took her second leave in 1979, the policy in the county was one of unlimited benefits. Several disabled disabl-ed employees took several months off and were compensated compen-sated either totally or partially by the county according to Adkins. So, in the worse case scenerio, the county could face a class action suit filed by the women who claim to have been discriminated against by the county for maternity leaves. The county could be forced to give "back pay" to as many a dozen female employees. The county fathers, it would appear, have sired yet another controversial decision. We would like to be so bold as to suggest the commissioners commis-sioners (all sons dT mothers, we suspect) rethink their decision in the interest of unity among female county staff members. If they don't like that reason perhaps they could reconsider based on the fact the county could ill afford a lawsuit involving attorney's fees and back pay that could amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Or perhaps they would like to be reminded this is an election year and politically this is a dumb move. We will watch and see how the three wise men will deal with this issue. And we will hope for healing positive results. In fact, we're downright expectant. Thumbs up , Thumbs down 7 THUMBS UP to everybody who participated and organized organiz-ed the myriad of events occurring in the Park City last weekend. Highlights were Bike 'n Tie, Autumn Aloft and the Mucker's Challenge Cup. THUMBS UP to the Public Works Department for agreeing, agree-ing, so long as weather permits, to fill "your favorite pothole." THUMBS UP to the city council and the Historic District Commission for having a positive, productive work session. ses-sion. We expect Main Street, and all of Old Town, to benefit from their concern for preservation. THUMBS DOWN to the proposed legislation limiting the sale of cold beer in Utah. The proposal has already caused a lot of negative publicity which will harm the state's tourism efforts. Do you think the city should demand replicative architecture in the downtown area? 7 ' i Tonja Hanson Yes. They should try to maintain a certain ambience that represents the history of Park City. V Larry Spurgeon No, not necessarily. As long as the building is consistent consis-tent to the theme you want. For example, I don't think the Memorial Bulding destroys the image of Main Street, whereas the mall did. Becky Pratt I think they should. I think Park City is known for Historic Main Street and that should be maintained. ft i i i i " r i i A If Cheryl Glick Yes I do. Because we're going go-ing to loose our past if we don't keep it alive. We'll just have a fancy modern ski resort if we don't. Felicia Wood In a lot of ways replicative architecture is so beautiful, but yet very wasteful of what you have to work with and what you're trying to portray. 'Jo,. V Marilyn Nelson I'm against replicative architecture ar-chitecture because to me it looks Victorian, and Park City Ci-ty is not a Victorian town. The Park Record (USPS 0037-8370) is published weekly by the News Record Publishing Co., Inc. Second-class postage in Park City, UT 84060. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Park Record, 1670 Bonanza Dr.., Suite 202 P.O. Box 3688, Park City, UT 84060 Entered as second-class matter, May 25, 1977, at the post office in Park City, UT 84060, under the Act of March 3, 1897. Published every Thursday. News tips The Park Record welcomes news tips, day or night. Call 649-9014 and ask for Jim Smedley or Rick Brought. Office hours Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. SsSlRairk MecM- ULUCJ Deadlines Add Some Class, Bulletin Board: Monday, 5 p.m. Classified advertising: Monday, 5 p.m. Display advertising: (proof): Friday, noon, (no proof): Monday, noon Legal notices: Monday, 5 p.m. Letters to the Editor: Monday, 5 p.m. Night Music: Friday, 5 p.m. Personal Paragraphs: Monday, 5 p.m. Press releases: Monday, 5 p.m. Note: Deadlines may be altered during holiday weeks. Please deliver typewritten, double-spaced information in paragraph form by hand or by mail to The Park Record, 1670 Bonanza Dr., Prospector Square, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, UT 84060. Staff Publisher )an Wilking Editor .Teri Comet Associate editor. Kurt Kidman Staff writers 'd Brough, im Smedley, Sena Taylor Darkroom and photography ,eK ,enn Staff photographer Neal Palumbo Contributing writers Bettina Moench Dooley, Bel Kummer, Robin Moench David Hampshire, lennifer Madgic Office manager Susan Davis Classified manager Linda Martin Circulation manager Pamela Hainsworth Distribution Tim Ogden Advertising sales. Bill Dickson, Dixie Ceisdorf, Pete Ortmann Production manager lacquee Gillespie Graphics lennifer Madgic Production assistant Sac ha Baumann Cartoonist .P. Ma Errors The Park Record makes every effort to insure the accuracy of the information it publishes. If you have a correction, please call the editor at 649-9014. Subscription rates 52 issues, mailed weekly $11 in Summit County $18 outside Summit County NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE CHECK ENCLOSED BILL ME RENEWAL |
