DAPHNE – Daphne city workers who worked during the COVID-19 outbreak will receive up to $1,500 under a proposal approved Monday, July 6, by the City Council.
The council voted unanimously to approve a motion by Councilwoman Tommie Conaway, chairwoman of the Finance Committee, to provide a one-time premium pay adjustment to employees who worked between March 13, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
Full-time workers will receive $1,500. Part-time employees will receive $750, Conaway said. The bonus is for work done during the public health emergency for which employees have not received additional and/or adequate compensation for their service, according to the motion.
“These workers are deemed essential workers due to their critical and essential service in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the heightened risk to these workers, who had to be physically present at the job site and are thus eligible for premium pay under the American Rescue Plan Act,” Conaway said.
Mayor Robin LeJeune said that while some residents in private jobs could work from home, many Daphne employees continued to report to work risking their own health during the pandemic.
“It’s for our city employees that worked during this COVID year,” LeJeune said. “They worked. They didn’t get to go home. They didn’t get to work from home. They didn’t switch shifts. They didn’t do all those things. They actually stayed and worked during this entire time.”
The mayor said the American Rescue Plan Act allows local governments to provide a one-time premium pay adjustment for current employees who worked during the COVID-19 outbreak.
He laughed and said the bonus did not apply to himself or the council. “All elected officials are exempt from this,” LeJeune said.
Daphne will receive $3.9 million in Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, according to U.S. Treasury reports.
Daphne City Hall and other municipal buildings closed on March 20, 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak. City Hall reopened in January 2021. During that time, many city employees continued to report to work, providing service through phone and email communications and dealing with payments and other items left at a drop box at City Hall.
The city continued to require anyone coming into City Hall or other municipal buildings to wear masks until May 17, when the council voted to remove the mandate.
