LOS ANGELES : Panel Rules Out Overtime for Top 5 DWP Managers

Responding to criticism of excessive overtime at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a city panel decided Tuesday that the DWP’s top five managers are no longer eligible for overtime.

A report released last month said city government as a whole needs to overhaul its system for dispensing overtime. But the report said the problem was most troubling at the DWP, where overtime payments far exceed all other civilian departments.

The utility has more than 400 salaried employees who earn more than $70,000 a year and then collect an average of $4,500 in overtime. That is more than six times the overtime average of $745 for supervisors in all other departments except the Fire Department.

The Fire Department’s overtime bill averaged $16,894 for each battalion chief and assistant chief, but the report said that was caused by the departments unique 24-hour staffing requirements.

The Board of Water and Power Commissioners voted Tuesday to discontinue overtime for two assistant general managers, the chief financial officer and two executive assistants to the general manager. They earn between $114,000 and $150,000 a year.

The general manager’s position, filled temporarily by Kenneth S. Miyoshi, is not entitled to overtime.

The board’s vote follows efforts by Miyoshi to bring overtime under control. He has called for a 50% reduction in overtime in the coming year, and has also limited overtime to emergency situations or other critical business needs.