Kali Katerberg/Daily Mining Gazette The Hancock City Council voted to amend city employee military leave policy, benefiting current and future employees who are called for mandatory yearly training.

HANCOCK — The City Council reexamined the employee military leave policy a decision that applied to Police Chief Wayne Butler and sets a precedent for future National Guard members employed by the city.

Butler raised the issue that he was taking vacation time or unpaid leave to complete his mandatory National Guard training.

“Because I took time off without pay, I don’t make my annual salary,” Butler explained.

In similar cases, some employers will pay the staff member their salary or typical hours during the two weeks of training, though not all Butler noted. A more common policy is to make up the difference in pay between the military and civilian salaries. However, such a solution would not apply to Butler as his National Guard role is higher paying than his salary of police chief.

“I think most of us want to be supportive, but when you’re being supportive you’re talking about spending budget money,” said council member John Haeussler who also serves on the personnel committee.

The committee recommended the military service-hourly wage difference be made up and employees be permitted to use vacation days.

The council leaned towards being more supportive of military members but also tried to watch costs as the policy could be applied to future employees, though Butler is the only one currently.

After much discussion, the council voted to build on the committee’s recommendation but not pay for the two full weeks. Instead, the council unanimously voted to provide full-time employees hourly or salary benefits for one week and make up the difference between pay for the second week as proposed by the committee.

“Given our budget at least we are moving in a positive direction,” Haeussler said.

Butler was ultimately pleased with the modification, though he will still have to take vacation time or go on leave during the second week.

“It’s 100 percent better than I had,” he said.