BI checking out hazard pay for grocery workers

The Bainbridge Island City Council is studying options for hazard pay for grocery store workers due to COVID-19.

Deputy Mayor Kirsten Hytopoulos said there has been a “flurry of activity” with cities passing similar laws recently. The main question is legality, and there are models out there now, she added.

Councilmember Joe Deets said he is “shocked and dismayed” by the lack of support given for grocery workers. But he said Town and Country on BI is a “blue ribbon” company that already is paying employees $2 more an hour in “appreciation” pay.

“They cannot afford $4” an hour, which is what many grocery store workers were requesting. “I’m not going to jeopardize Town and Country,” he said.

Councilmember Leslie Schneider favored the $2 model, adding Town and Country should be applauded for its added pay.

Councilmember Brenda Fantroy-Johnson said some grocery stores have not responded to paying their workers more, even though they’ve been making “lots of money off the pandemic.” People have been eating at home more during this time of COVID, for safety’s sake and due to restaurants being restricted.

“Let’s not lose sight on how long people have been waiting” for hazard pay, she said.

The city will be looking into the legal risks of an ordinance, and the issue will be revisited.

Mayor Rasham Nassar said the city should take some risk on this.

“This is a class of people we are trying to protect that have been marginalized,” she said.

A number of people spoke on the issue during public comment Tuesday at the council meeting.

Sal DeRosalia said it’s an equity issue as it’s not kids stocking shelves it’s adults who are people of color. Others said many customers don’t wear masks correctly and others not at all, which puts their families at risk.

In other council news:

•Interim city manager Ellen Schorer said the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to review a Shoreline Master Program case filed against the city of Bainbridge Island brought by the citizens group Preserve Reasonable Shoreline Management. The litigation relates to PRSM’s appeal of the SMP, and the request for review was about an evidentiary issue. The decision means that the matter has been referred back to Kitsap Superior Court for a determination based on the court record.

•Dick Haugan called for a full investigation into the city buying the Harrison Medical Center for a police station-court facility. He said the city paid almost $9 million, and it was only worth $3 million.

He also said almost 500 people responded to his unscientific survey. Among the responses: Should the city fully investigate? 68% said yes; Should residents have voted on a bond? 63% yes; Should a citizen oversight committee be established going forward? 63% yes; In general, does the city do a good job governing? 34% unsure, 31% disagree, 24% strongly disagree. Also, 29% want government to go back to being unincorporated outside Winslow; 24.5% want to remain a city manager form of government; 24% want to go back to a mayoral form; and 22% had no opinion.