Woodland council approves $36,000 employee settlement agreement

The Woodland City Council voted unanimously on Monday, June 1, to approve a settlement agreement with Woodland Teamsters Local 58 and authorize Mayor Todd Dinehart to sign it. The agreement resolves disputes over unpaid overtime and wage overpayments involving current and former city employees, with neither side admitting fault or liability. After employees raised concerns in fall 2024, the city recalculated regular pay rates for September 2021 through October 2024, finding unpaid overtime for 23 employees and some overpayments. Under the settlement, the city will pay $36,005.22 in lump sums with payroll taxes and withholdings, apply double damages to calculated overtime amounts, forgive prior overpayments, and require employees and the union to waive related claims and grievances through Oct. 15, 2024. Public Works Director Riley Bunnell, though listed among involved employees, chose not to participate. The council also unanimously postponed the interview and appointment process for a vacant council seat until June 15 to allow more applicants to apply and more council members to participate; at the time, Jeffrey Wray was the only scheduled interviewee.

(Source：The Reflector)