PORTAGE | The City Council wrapped up its year Tuesday approving changes to personnel policies and making last minute transfers of funds.

The council approved three minor changes to personnel policies.

Mayor Olga Velazquez said the changes are results of her meetings with city employees and those employees making suggestions on the policies.

Approved was a change to the overtime policy clarifying language on overtime to follow the fair labor standards act. The change, said City Attorney Ken Elwood, allows employees to claim overtime for any day worked more than eight hours even if the overtime occurs during a holiday week.

A second change expands a recently adopted policy that allows employees to share major illness leave.

Originally employees could donate up to five days to a fellow employee who was caring for a terminally ill dependent. That was expanded to cover the receiving employee himself if that employee were terminally ill.

The third change expands the definition of immediate family in regards to funeral leave. New language allows the inclusion of stepparent, stepgrandparent, foster children living in the household or grandparents-in-law as immediate family.

In other business, the council also directed the attorney to draw up an ordinance that would allow the spending of $48,271 left over from a 1998 stormwater bond issue. All projects outlined in the bond issue have been completed. Director of Public Works Craig Hendrix said the left over funds would be used to complete small stormwater projects such as cleaning pipes and ditches.

The council approved moving their Jan. 5 meeting to Thursday, Jan. 8. Velazquez requested the move because the regular meeting falls on the Orthodox Christmas, a religious holiday she recognizes and celebrates.