Fairfield City Council to Discuss Transit Worker Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy

Should city transit employees be tested for drugs and alcohol? That’s the question before the Fairfield City Council tonight during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. tonight.

In order to receive federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration, the city is required to test all safety-sensitive employees.

City Manager Sean P. Quinn said part of the city's mission of providing public transit is to ensure that this service is delivered safely, efficiently and effectively by establishing a drug and alcohol-free work environmen to ensure that the workplace remains free from the effects of drugs and alcohol.

"This is done in order to promote the health and safety of employees and the general public," he said. "In keeping with this mission the City of Fairfield declares that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispense and possession or use of controlled substances or misuse of alcohol is prohibited for all employees.”

He added the required test covers employees who operate transit vehicles carrying passengers, those who maintain service vehicles, security personnel who carry firearms, dispatchers, anyone who controls the movement of transit vehicles or any other transit employee who is required to hold a commercial license.

There is no cost to the city for the tests. They include random testing, post-accident testing, pre-employment testing, reasonable-suspicion testing, return-to-duty testing and follow-up testing.

Also on tomorrow's agenda are a few items pertaining to the annexations within the "Train Station Specific Plan Area" and approving a cooperative agreement between the City of Fairfield and Suisun-Fairfield Rockville Cemetery District.

According to information provided by the City of Fairfield, the Suisun-Fairfield Rockville Cemetery District operates and maintains public cemeteries to serve residents of the cities of Fairfield and Suisun City as well as adjacent unincorporated areas.

The plan area, however, is not within the boundaries of the district but is within its sphere of influence. When that area is annexed, the district will not receive any of the property tax revenue. The agreement will provide an equivalent amount of revenue through the Community Facilities Districts established by the city.

Provisions within the agreement include the city offering to dedicate a 23 to 55-acre cemetery site along Vanden Road to the district at no cost. The city will impose certain deed restrictions including building height and vehicular access. In addition, the district will receive an annual contribution from the city using the revenue from the Community Facilities Districts of “$22 for a single-family home per year and $17 per multi-family unit per year” that is within the annexation area that the city has issued a certificate of occupancy in.

Would you feel safer if city transit workers were drug tested?

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