900 Quay Street  
Manitowoc, WI 54220  
www.manitowoc.org  
City of Manitowoc  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Personnel Committee  
Monday, October 2, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Council Chambers-meeting also available via remote  
conferencing-Zoom  
1. Call to Order  
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.  
2. Roll Call  
Jessie Lillibridge, Seth Loberger, Tyler Tews, Bill Tews, Brad Olivera, Chad Haucke, Kerry  
Peck, Nick Reimer Todd Blaser, Shawn Esslinger, Eric Nycz, and Debbie Charney  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Present:  
3. Public Comment  
None  
4. Consent Agenda  
These items will be approved by one motion unless any Committee Member wishes to remove an  
item for discussion.  
REMOVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: None  
Moved by Vanderkin, seconded by Kaderabek, to accept the Consent Agenda  
Items as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Approval of September 7, 2023 Personnel Committee Minutes  
23-0782  
23-0783  
Review of Legal Fees Billed out Through September, 2023-Human  
Resources  
Report out of Human Resources Office Initiatives October, 2023  
Report out of City Attorney's Office Initiatives October, 2023  
23-0784  
23-0785  
5. Discussion and Action Items  
Letter from Seth Loberger-Fire Department-Regarding Residency  
23-0799  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, spoke to the Committee  
that a 6-month extension for residency requirement of 25 miles within one  
year of hire was granted in February, 2023. Chief Blaser explained to the  
Committee that the employees have been trying to find housing. Both Seth  
Loberger and Tyler Tews, Firefighters, spoke to the Committee and  
explained the reasons for requesting an exception. The Committee had  
some discussion on the item.  
Moved by Brey, seconded by Vanderkin, to grant a 6-month extension from  
10-04-2023 for residency requirement and refer to council. The motion carried by  
the following vote:  
4 - Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
1 - Sitkiewitz  
Aye:  
Nay:  
Letter from Tyler Tews-Fire Department-Regarding Residency  
23-0800  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, spoke to the Committee  
that a 6-month extension for residency requirement of 25 miles within one  
year of hire was granted in February, 2023. Chief Blaser explained to the  
Committee that the employees have been trying to find housing. Both Seth  
Loberger and Tyler Tews, Firefighters, spoke to the Committee and  
explained the reasons for requesting an exception. The Committee had  
some discussion on the item.  
Moved by Brey, seconded by Vanderkin, to grant a 6-month extension from  
10-04-2023 for residency requirement and refer to council. The motion carried by  
the following vote:  
4 - Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
1 - Sitkiewitz  
Aye:  
Nay:  
Benefit Plan Recommendations for 2024  
23-0794  
Shawn Esslinger, Benefits Consultant from USI, presented the  
recommended benefits plan for 2024 to the Committee.  
Moved by Sitkiewitz, seconded by Vanderkin, to direct the Human Resources  
Director to create a memo to bring to the October, 2023 Council meeting  
outlining the 2024 benefit recommendations. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Agreement of Vitality-Wellness Platform-Contract  
23-0786  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, explained to the committee  
that Humana is no longer offering Go365, the City's current wellness  
platform as of September 30, 2023. An RFP was done and the request is  
to implement Vitality on January 1, 2024 to replace Go365.  
Moved by Sitkiewitz, seconded by Brey, to approve the agreement of  
Vitality-wellness platform-contract and authorize the Finance Director and  
Human Resource Director to sign the agreement and refer to council. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Approval of Revised Police Department Drug and Alcohol Policy  
23-0796  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, explained to the committee  
the current policy having language that needed to be updated. The Interim  
City Attorney reviewed the policy as well.  
Moved by Brey, seconded by Vanderkin, to approve the revised Police  
Department drug and alcohol policy and refer to council. The motion carried by  
the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Recommendation to Alleviate Pay Compression in Protective Services  
23-0795  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, explained to the committee  
the problems with pay compression. Police Chief, Nick Reimer, spoke to  
the committee explaining the history of contracts where Lieutenants and  
Captains and supervisors used to have their own contracts in place to help  
alleviate this issue in the Police Department.  
A motion was made by Alder Sitkiewitz to place the agenda item on file and it  
failed due to lack of a second.  
A second motion was made by Brey, seconded by Vanderkin, to approve the  
presented recommendation minus the Police Chief and Fire Chief and refer to  
council. The motion carried by the following vote:  
4 - Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
1 - Sitkiewitz  
Aye:  
Nay:  
Approval of Employee Policy Manual Revisions-October, 2023  
23-0793  
Human Resources Director, Jessie Lillibridge, explained the changes  
recommended to the Employee Policy Manual.  
A motion was made by Alder Sitkiewitz to approve the Employee Policy Manual  
Revisions minus the New Year's Eve holiday change and it failed due to lack of a  
second.  
A second motion was made by Vanderkin, seconded by Brey, to approve the  
revisions to the employee policy manual and refer to council. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
3 - Vanderkin, Schlei and Brey  
2 - Sitkiewitz and Kaderabek  
Aye:  
Nay:  
Committee Budget Directives to the Mayor  
There was no action taken on this item  
23-0814  
6. Convene in Closed Session  
Moved by Vanderkin, seconded by Kaderabek, to convene in closed session at  
7:05 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Notice is hereby given that the above governmental body may adjourn into a closed session during  
the meeting as authorized by Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Statutes, which authorizes the  
governmental body to convene in closed session for the purpose of considering employment,  
promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the  
governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.  
The specific subject matter that may be considered in closed session is:  
23-0815  
Discussion and Possible Action on City Attorney Promotional Offer of  
Employment  
Notice is hereby given that the above governmental body may adjourn into a closed session during  
the meeting as authorized by Section 19.85(1)(e) of the Wisconsin Statutes, which authorizes the  
governmental body to convene in closed session for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the  
purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public  
business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.  
The specific subject matter that may be considered in closed session is:  
Police Contract Bargaining 2024-2026  
23-0185  
(Closed Session portion of the Minutes has been redacted)  
7. Reconvene in Open Session  
Moved by Vanderkin, seconded by Kaderabek, to reconvene in open session at  
8:20 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
23-0815  
Discussion and Possible Action on City Attorney Promotional Offer of  
Employment  
There was no action on this item  
Police Contract Bargaining 2024-2026  
There was no action on this item  
23-0185  
8. Adjournment  
Moved by Brey, seconded by Sitkiewitz, that this meeting be adjourned at 8:21  
p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 - Sitkiewitz, Vanderkin, Schlei, Kaderabek and Brey  
Aye:  
Submitted by Debbie Charney, Human Resources Generalist