Establishing a policy that allows 12 weeks of paid family leave for city employees, creating an economic development association, and adding a bicycle patrol unit to the police department were among the 2020 objectives recently discussed by Roeland Park councilmembers.
The family leave policy, introduced by councilmember Erin Thompson, would qualify city employees for up to 12 weeks of paid time off when they or their spouse give birth, adopt, or foster a child. Only employees who have worked for the city for at least one year would be eligible.
The objective would allow parents “to bond with children without any pressure of losing income.”
Councilmembers were overall supportive of the objective but voiced some concerns with how it could impact the city if multiple employees were out of the office at the same time.
“We are a small operation and we just have to make sure we are covered,” said councilmember Jim Kelly.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)