Simi Valley Will Assist Employees Sent to Gulf : Reservists: The council votes to make up the difference between military pay and regular salaries.

Simi Valley has become the first city in the county to approve a plan ensuring that city employees called to duty in the Persian Gulf War do not suffer a pay cut.

The council Monday unanimously approved the plan, which calls for the city to supplement the pay that reservists receive from the military so it equals their regular city salary.

Reservists will also keep the same level of health benefits.

So far, two city employees--a police services assistant and a public works employee--have been called to serve in the Gulf War, and six others could be called at any time.

One of the reservists was called to duty in December and the other this month.

City officials did not release their names.

The subsidy program was suggested by Councilmen Bill Davis and Glen McAdoo.

“My major concern was, what are these employees going to do if they have a wife and kids, or if they just bought a house?” Davis said.

He said there is a “big difference” between the pay they receive from the military and their regular city salaries. “We just want to try and make it as easy for their families as we can. They have enough to worry about.”

“It’s the least we can do,” McAdoo said. “They are risking their lives to protect us.”

Laura Wylie, the city’s personnel director, said federal law only requires employers to continue compensation at the same salary level for up to 30 days.

The law also requires that employees be guaranteed a job when they return.

Wylie said the city’s subsidy program is effective immediately.

The city plans to hire temporary replacements to fill the positions of the two employees who are gone, she said.

Wylie said it will cost the city about $3,000, in addition to the cost of the replacements, to ensure that the two reservists called to duty maintain their city salary level for 12 months.

It would cost about $35,000 to cover all eight reservists for the same period.

The council can extend the program if it desires.

Council members said they would like to see other Ventura County cities and the county government follow Simi Valley’s lead.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled next month to consider its own program to aid nine county employees who have been called up for service and others who might be called later.

Supervisor Maria VanderKolk has suggested a plan almost identical to Simi Valley’s, while colleague Vicky Howard has proposed setting up an emergency fund that would be financed by donations from county employees.

Howard has said she would prefer that plan to VanderKolk’s because of the county’s tight budget constraints.