Perry adjusts employees’ leave time, honors Jackson’s service

The Perry City Council made a move Tuesday in adjusting employee’s sick leave and vacation time that it says is for the benefit of long-term employees.

The Council approved to increase the amount of annual vacation and sick leave that employees can accrue with the city. Although employees aren’t paid for sick leave when they retire, City Manager Lee Gilmour said this measure was taken to help employees when they may need to take sick leave. Gilmour did note that employees can cash out on their annual leave upon retiring but said the increase of leave will not impact the city budget much at all.

With the change, non-firefighter employees can now accrue up to 240 hours of annual leave and 1,280 hours of sick leave. Firefighters, whose time is calculated differently because they work 24-hour shifts, can earn up to 366 hours of annual leave and up to 1,792 hours of sick leave.

Before the change all employees were only able to hold 160 hours of annual leave and 640 hours of sick leave.

In other business, the mayor and council recognized Perry Police Sgt. Ray Jackson for 40 years of service to the City of Perry.

Jackson began his service as a police officer in September 1973. Since serving as an officer for Perry, Jackson has received the Purple Heart from the city after he was shot during a domestic call in Collins Trailer Park in 1989.

Jackson has also received the American Hero Award and has his name on a monument in Washington D.C.

Jackson was joined by numerous fellow officers and his family at Tuesday’s recognition.

HHJ News