BUENA PARK : City Staff in Gulf to Get Extended Pay
The City Council has agreed to extend the salary and benefits of city employees called to active duty in the Persian Gulf War.
The council unanimously voted to continue paying reservists 90 days beyond the 30 days required by law. The city will pick up the difference between the employee’s salary and the compensation received from the military and also continue medical benefits, said Administrative Services Manager George Rivera.
City staff estimates that it will cost $3,500 per month to compensate each employee sent to the Gulf.
So far, Building and Safety Manager Bob Gallagher is the only city employee called up for active duty. After he left in January, the council agreed to hire a part-time manager to replace him at a cost of $40,000.
His departure and the potential deployment of other city employees sparked the action on Feb. 4, officials said. Besides Gallagher, another five employees are members of the military reserves.
After the 90-day limit, the council will decide whether to grant another extension, Rivera said.
The proposal approved last week is limited to duty for Operation Desert Storm.
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