COVID-19-Weekly-Employee-Update_4_23_20
Join the Virtual Employee Forum
On Thursday, April 23 at 3 p.m., a Virtual Employee Forum will be held through Microsoft Teams. Please
join City Manager Todd Hileman, Human Resources Director Tiffany Thomson, and other members of
the City of Denton leadership team as they discuss the City’s COVID-19 response, its impact on the City’s
budget, and planning for the future during uncertain times.
You’ll be able to submit questions to the presenters during the forum. If you are unable to participate in
the live forum, you can watch the recorded version, which will be posted on the Hub.
Click here to join the meeting.
You will need your City of Denton email address and network password to attend the meeting.
Voluntary Separation Program
On April 21, the City Council approved the criteria for the Voluntary Separation Program (VSP). The
criteria for eligibility are:
• A regular full-time employee (as defined in policy no. 103.01), AND
• Have been employed with the City, in a full-time capacity, for at least twelve (12) full,
consecutive months as of April 22, 2020.
If you are interested in the VSP, complete the VSP Interest Form. More details are included in the
interest form. The VSP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that will answer many of the
questions related to the program. If you are not interested in the VSP, you do not need to submit the
form.
If you have questions about the VSP, email COVID19HR@cityofdenton.com. The Human Resources team
is here to help you. The list below shows the HR Business Partners who support the departments. You
can reach out to them from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Carri Byrd – x8349
Cell (214) 755-3169 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
HR Business Partner Supervisor
Fire, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Legal, Police, Risk Management, Safety
• April David - x8342
Cell (972) 436-2759 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
HR Business Partner
Airport; (City Manager’s Office, City Secretary, Public Affairs/IGR, Comm. Dev., DTV, Comm.
Improvement Services); Development Services (Planning, Building Inspections); Electric
Operations; Economic Development, Engineering (Capital Projects, Eng. Dev. Review, Traffic
Ops); Facilities Management; Wastewater Operations, Water Operations; Utilities (Admin,
Environmental Services, Sustainability)
• Tiffani James - x7882
Cell (972) 955-9682 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
HR Business Partner
Animal Services; Finance (Administration, Accounting, AP, Budget, Customer Service, Treasury);
Library; Municipal Court; Municipal Judge’s Office; Parks and Recreation;
Procurement/Compliance (Materials Management); Public Works (Drainage, Fleet Services,
Solid Waste, Streets); Technology Services (Public Safety Dispatch
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidelines and Policy
For the health and safety of our community and employees, our approach to serving the community has
required significant changes. An important precaution to keep employees and our community safe is the
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidelines and Policy. The PPE guidelines and policy addresses the
use of PPE within the organization, appropriate use of PPE when an employee cannot maintain proper
social distancing, and a template that department directors and supervisors can use to determine which
PPE each employee should use. As COVID-19 safety standards change, the guidelines will be updated
and distributed throughout the organization. If you have any questions, you should speak with your
supervisor or email COVID19HR@cityofdenton.com.
Performance Review Updates
On April 6, 2020, Human Resources (HR) informed employees that merit increases would be frozen
effective April 18, 2020, through at least the end of the fiscal year and potentially longer. As noted in the
communication, performance discussions would continue.
To assist supervisors and employees in having these important performance discussions in a timely and
meaningful manner, HR has created a new short-form review. This new form will replace the existing
“Performance Appraisal Template” and will be used for all performance reviews due beginning April 18,
2020 and going forward. For additional information, review the introduction document. (Reviews due
before April 18, 2020 that have not yet been completed will still use the old Appraisal Template form and
process.)
Additional resources will be published on the HUB soon to help answer questions and walk through this
updated review process. If you have any questions, you should speak with your supervisor or contact
HR.
Tuition Reimbursement Program Temporarily Suspended
Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the City has been required to implement measures to ensure
the financial stability of our organization. Effective April 10, 2020 the Tuition Reimbursement Program
has been temporarily suspended until further notice. No new applications or requests for tuition
reimbursement will be accepted or approved for the remainder of the fiscal year.
If you have questions regarding the policy addendum, please contact Stephanie Lang or Crystal Babcock.
We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Department Summaries
With significant limitations and closures in place for our Denton Parks and Recreation Centers, the team
continues to find a way to keep our community moving and learning with virtual online group fitness
classes, creative learning resources, and more.
Our departments’ efforts to respond and serve during this challenging time continues to evolve and
reveal our dedication to the community we serve. To see more of the remarkable ways we are adapting
in response to COVID-19, read the latest Department summaries here.
If you have questions or would like to see additional information included in the next
COVID-19 employee update, email COVID19HR@cityofdenton.com.