Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 27, 1993 TAG: 9311270131
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The city's social workers say they need free parking even more than police officers do.
They say they don't begrudge the police officers' request, they just want city officials to provide them free parking, too.
The city requires applicants for social work jobs to own a car to use at work.
Social workers use their own cars in traveling to meet with clients and performing other job duties.
They also must pay for parking in lots and garages near the Municipal Building.
"This is something that has bothered me for a long time," said one social worker who did not want to be identified.
"The police are not required to drive to work. They can car pool; or, if they work the day shift, they can catch the bus," the worker said.
"I don't have that option. I'm required to drive my car to work and have it available every day."
The city provides 12 cars for 70 social workers, but that is not enough for a car always to be available when needed.
Corinne Gott, superintendent of social services, said several cars are used frequently for out-of-town trips.
"There aren't enough to go around when they are needed," she said. "The employees have to use their own cars."
In addition to paying for parking, the social workers must pay higher insurance premiums for using their cars on the job.
The city reimburses the employees 24 cents a mile for using their cars, but the workers say this does not cover all of their expenses.
"If you add the expense for monthly parking and the extra insurance, it probably costs [the social workers] to use their own car," Gott said.
The City Council has asked City Manager Bob Herbert for a report within 120 days on a request to provide free parking downtown for police officers and other employees in the municipal complex.
"This is not a simple issue. It is unrealistic to expect an answer in a short time," Herbert told the council. "If we are not careful, we will pit one group of employees against the other."
Besides 250 police officers, several hundred city employees in the municipal complex must provide their own parking.
On the other hand, the city provides free parking for nearly 500 public works employees, 245 firefighters, and employees at outlying locations such as the Parks and Recreation Department and water filtration and sewage treatment plants.
The police officers contend that at least 200 parking spaces a day are vacant in the 860-space Municipal Parking Garage on Church Avenue.
They say these could be made available to police officers and other employees without any cost to the city or loss of revenue.
But city officials say they will have to check with the garage's management company to see if the figure is correct.
by CNB