The Woodland City Council voted unanimously on Monday, June 1, to approve a settlement agreement with the Woodland Teamsters Local 58 union. The decision authorizes Mayor Todd Dinehart to sign the agreement, which resolves ongoing disputes over overtime pay and wage overpayments involving both current and former city employees.
City employees first raised concerns in fall 2024, alleging the city miscalculated employees’ regular rate of pay for overtime, resulting in unpaid overtime for 23 employees.
After an internal review, the city recalculated regular rates of pay for employees covering September 2021 through October 2024. The process also revealed that some employees may have been overpaid, which under state law required the city to seek repayment.
Although the city, union and employees disagreed on the exact amounts owed for unpaid overtime and overpayments, all parties agreed to settle the matter without accepting fault or liability.
The settlement provides compensation to employees for overtime owed between Sept. 9, 2021, and Oct. 15, 2024. Any overpayments previously owed to the city will be forgiven, and double damages will be applied to the calculated overtime amounts. Payments will be made as lump sums, with standard payroll taxes and withholdings applied.
Employees who sign the agreement, along with the union, waive any related claims and grievances that existed through Oct. 15, 2024.
In total, the city will pay $36,005.22 to all affected current and former employees.
During the meeting, Mayor Dinehart said that Public Works Director Riley Bunnell chose not to participate in the agreement, even though he was listed as one of the employees involved. Bunnell joined the city in April 2024.
Settlement documents show Bunnell would have received $813.32 under the agreement. His overtime was calculated at $406.66, which would have been doubled under the settlement terms. The city also identified an overpayment of $61.05, but the proposal did not offset this amount.
The agreement specifies that neither the city, the union nor individual employees admit fault or liability regarding the underlying claims.
In other city business, the council postponed interviews and the appointment process for a vacant council seat after Douglas Freimarck resigned to move out of Washington.
Councilor Brittny Michaelson moved to delay the interviews and the appointment vote until June 15. The council approved the motion unanimously.
Michaelson said the delay would give more applicants time to apply and allow additional council members to take part in the process. Councilors John Burke and Melissa Doughty were not present, and both were excused from the meeting.
At the time of the meeting, Jeffrey Wray was the only applicant scheduled for an interview. Wray previously served five years on the Woodland School District board, including one year as board president. Wray was also among four candidates considered by the council when it appointed Aaron Brown on May 18 to fill the vacancy left by Jennifer De Luz’s resignation.
