Pineville  WORK SESSION MINUTES MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024 @ 6:00 PM TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS  The Town Council oft the Town of Pineville, NC, meti in al Work Session on Monday, March 25, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m.  ATTENDANCE Mayor: David Phillips Mayor Pro-Tem: Ed Samaha Town Manager: Ryan Spitzer Town Clerk: Lisa Snyder CALL TOC ORDER  Council Members: Amelia Stinson-Wesley, Chris McDonough, Danielle Moore  Mayor David Phillips called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.  DISCUSSIONITEMS:  PD Salary Presentation. Seargent David Lindsey gave a presentation on the current police staffing crisis and outlined the struggles they are facing. They are having trouble attracting qualified candidates to apply for open positions due to the surrounding agencies' higher pay and incentives. He stated that we are 23rd ont the list in pay. There has been al lot oft turnover, including turnover with the 911 dispatchers. The detective bureau is also struggling and dealing with shortages. He showed comparisons with surrounding Mecklenburg County police departments. They pulled Calls for Service stats but noted that the some oft the surrounding towns do not have al large mall and a He noted that 70% of our department has less than 3 years ofe experience. The staff at the department are struggling with low morale due to being overworked and underpaid. This has been worsened by their colleagues leaving for higher-paying! jobsi ins surrounding agencies with better incentives. They are proposing the following! budget allocation request: across-the-board increases, longevity pay, top-out pay increases, shift differential, bi-lingual pay, among others. Sgt. Lindsey added that they sent out 150r recruiting emails but only received two back. The emails included The entire police department is in need of help. The majority of crimes are committed by non-residents and the perpetrators live within 100 miles of here. Pineville is not in the ballpark compared to other counties. Our 911 dispatchers are doing the work for Pineville and Mint Hill. We are 23rd on the list for pay in that area. K-9 handlers undergo extensive training to work effectively with their canine partners. This training is often rigorous and requires a significant time investment. K-9 handlers can involve added risks compared to other law enforcement  hospital.  incentives and sign-on bonuses).  Council Work. Session ofMarch. 25, 2024  Page 1    roles. K-9 handlers are also responsible or the care of their canine partners. Surrounding towns offer incentives to Mayor Pro Tem Samaha agreed that we are behind but feels that all of the towns are going through this. Mayor Phillips appreciates the opportunity for the input her received. He said that everybody is on board with them, butt there is a staffing problem nationwide and at the end of the day, we can do better. We do not want to lose our senior Seargent Lindsey doesn't expect change to be implemented immediately but would appreciate a 4 to 5-year plan. Mayor Phillips stated that the Work Session had concluded, and council will be going into Closed Session pursuant Council Member McDonough moved to enter Closed Session followed by asecond made by Council Member Moore. Council Member Stinson-Wesley moved to adjourn the meeting followed by a second made by council Member  their K-91 handlers, however, Pineville does not.  officers. Council Member Stinson-Wesley concurred with thel Mayor.  Council is aware and are reviewing it.  to! NCGS 143.318.11 (3) for attorney-client privilege, after al brief break.  All ayes.  McDonough. All ayes.  The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:13 pm.  DavidF  d  ATTEST:  beyde Lisa Snyder, Town Clerk  Council Work. Session ofMarch 25, 2024  Page 2