Pubdate: Thu, 21 Aug 2003
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2003 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgi
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Jeff Bobo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

CHURCH HILL BMA WANTS ONE-STRIKE POLICY FOR DRUG OFFENDERS

CHURCH HILL - Church Hill's new drug policy for city employees will
include a "one strike and you're out" penalty for offenders.

The Church Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen came to that decision
during discussion of the overall employee policy at Tuesday's BMA
meeting. Police Chief Mark Johnson noted that the revised employee
policy stated a one-strike policy for drug offenders, while the
proposed drug policy - which was presented later by Johnson - called
for two strikes. The overall revised employee policy was defeated by a
3-3 vote Tuesday.

The separately proposed drug policy outlines the procedures the city
will follow for the random drug-testing program that is expected to be
implemented. Although no vote was taken on the drug policy, the board
informally agreed that the drug policy would state that an employee
will be dismissed after one failed random drug test or if an employee
is found to have alcohol in his or her system while on the job.

Church Hill already randomly tests its employees with commercial
driver's licenses. The new policy calls for "safety sensitive"
employees to be tested as well, such as police officers and
firefighters.

Random testing involves 25 percent of the eligible employees being
picked by a computer and tested quarterly. The computer ensures that
no employees are being singled out by their superiors.

"It also provides for reasonable suspicion testing, post-accident and
pre-employment," Johnson told the board. "About 10 employees will be
tested every quarter, and of those 10 employees, one will be
alcohol-tested, while the others will be drug-tested."

The board didn't vote on the policy. It instead agreed to schedule a
workshop and go over the drug policy more in-depth.

If Church Hill adopts the new random drug-testing policy, it will be
eligible for a 5 percent to 7 percent discount on its insurance
premiums from the Tennessee Municipal League, Johnson said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin