Tuesday, the Lane County Board of Commissioners moved to stymie the City of Eugene's sick leave ordinance before it's passed. It's unclear what effect the county's actions will have.
The County Board proposed three ordinances in reaction to Eugene's proposed sick leave-- one would exempt county employees from the city's rule. Another would exempt other cities in the county from it, and a third forbids other cities in Lane County from making similar rules. The vote was 4 to 0, with Commissioner Sorenson absent.
Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy says her initial take is that since Eugene is a home-rule city it has certain rights for what it can do. She says a majority of the City Council supports the ordinance.
Piercy: "We think earned paid sick leave would be good for our employers, our employees and for the well-being of the whole community. The details of that, what will be in and what will be out, and how much, that's yet to come."
Piercy says the City Attorney has clarified that Lane County employees are already exempt from the city's ordinance because it's a home-rule county. Eugene's public hearing on the ordinance is July 21st.
The draft ordinance would require employers to provide one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year.
