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A proposed ordinance in Omaha could allow city employees to fundraise for nonprofits during work hours, potentially reviving the “fill the boot” campaign for muscular dystrophy research that was shut down.The original version of the fundraiser spanned for decades, said Trevor Towey, president of Omaha’s fire union. While waiting for calls during Labor Day weekend, firefighters would raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”There’s still 700 departments across this country that that’s how they do it today,” Towey told the Omaha City Council at a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday afternoon.More than 15 years ago, Former City Attorney Paul Kratz said, “the city has no authority to permit its employees to use city-paid time or equipment to promote the activities of private organizations, no matter how worthy the cause, unless the activities fulfill the city’s mission and duties,” KETV reported at the time.Kratz pointed to a Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission opinion that current City Attorney Matt Kuhse says offers a “very tight window of what is legally permissible.”Omaha City Council President Danny Begley’s proposal was drafted with the help of Kuhse. It would allow city employees to fundraise for nonprofits on city time up to five times a year, with approval from department heads and the mayor. City employees could not be forced to participate under the ordinance. It says that the “non-profit’s mission must align with the public safety, community welfare or public health and be consistent with the mission of the City of Omaha or any of its departments.”Some councilmembers expressed support for the “fill the boot” campaign but raised concerns about the proposal itself, including Aimee Melton, LaVonya Goodwin, and Don Rowe. Melton said it could be used for things other than “fill the boot” without councilmembers or the public being notified.The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal on June 2.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A proposed ordinance in Omaha could allow city employees to fundraise for nonprofits during work hours, potentially reviving the “fill the boot” campaign for muscular dystrophy research that was shut down.
The original version of the fundraiser spanned for decades, said Trevor Towey, president of Omaha’s fire union. While waiting for calls during Labor Day weekend, firefighters would raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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“There’s still 700 departments across this country that that’s how they do it today,” Towey told the Omaha City Council at a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday afternoon.
More than 15 years ago, Former City Attorney Paul Kratz said, “the city has no authority to permit its employees to use city-paid time or equipment to promote the activities of private organizations, no matter how worthy the cause, unless the activities fulfill the city’s mission and duties,” KETV reported at the time.
Kratz pointed to a Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission opinion that current City Attorney Matt Kuhse says offers a “very tight window of what is legally permissible.”
Omaha City Council President Danny Begley’s proposal was drafted with the help of Kuhse.
It would allow city employees to fundraise for nonprofits on city time up to five times a year, with approval from department heads and the mayor. City employees could not be forced to participate under the ordinance. It says that the “non-profit’s mission must align with the public safety, community welfare or public health and be consistent with the mission of the City of Omaha or any of its departments.”
Some councilmembers expressed support for the “fill the boot” campaign but raised concerns about the proposal itself, including Aimee Melton, LaVonya Goodwin, and Don Rowe. Melton said it could be used for things other than “fill the boot” without councilmembers or the public being notified.
The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal on June 2.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
