Amador County – Facing a $200,000 budget deficit, Sutter Creek City Council avoided declaring an impasse Monday in negotiations with 2 unions. Instead, the finance committee will resume talks with the Sutter Creek Police Officers Association, and the Service Employees International Union. Mayor Gary Wooten said the city is “looking at a 10 percent cut for employee costs” and “eliminating some management positions.” SEIU Local 1021 Representative Mike Fouch said “we are prepared at this time to go back to the table.” Wooten agreed to meet with Fouch Tuesday, while the committee will meet with POA August 12th. Councilman Pat Crosby said: “I don’t see how Sutter Creek is going to move forward unless we drastically reduce our number of employees.” He said “indirect labor costs are running at 125 percent.” Crosby said: “We don’t know what we are doing here. As far as I’m concerned, it’s time to start over.” Crosby said they should give “termination notices” to all city employees, then “start from scratch.” He said: “We’ve got to cut our labor in half. I see no other way to balance our budget.” Wooten disagreed, saying if the budget balances this year, it will help next year. Wooten said they need to negotiate a fair agreement with unions. Crosby said “you’re talking about $600,000 in 2 years,” another $400,000 next year, “puts us at a million bucks.” Crosby made a motion to terminate all city employee contracts. A man in the audience then said: “I make a motion to kick his ass.” Wooten said the item was for discussion only and no action. The room was filled with city employees including maintenance, city hall and police. City Clerk Judy Allen, her voice breaking, said “Sutter Creek is the only city that doesn’t have a full time city clerk” and it needs one. She said Natalie Doyle “is kept busy doing my job,” and she couldn’t “believe you have Natalie’s job as one to be eliminated.” City Clerks from Jackson, Giselle Cangelosi, and Ione’s Janice Traverso, both urged the council to make it a full-time post. Wooten said Sutter Creek police were probably among the lowest paid in California, but like he did when a policeman, “they took an oath to lay down their lives rather than sway form the path of duty.” Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said city employees “are not over-benefitted.” She said “we need to make cuts and we will make the cuts to make the city solvent.” Wooten said: “I’m going to shut this down. It’s very stressful, very emotional, and it affects everyone in this room.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.