Columbus Council Amends Its CDL Reimbursement Agreement

(Columbus) The Columbus City Council recently moved to amend its Commercial Driver’s License Reimbursement Agreement. The agreement requires the city to pay for all materials related to an employee obtaining a commercial driver’s license including tuition, books, training, and courses.  

Before the vote, Alderwoman Trina Reid expressed concern about the length of the agreement and offered a suggestion. “I would like to discuss the idea of shortening the term to either two or three years,” said Reid. 

Prior to the amendment, employees had no obligation to repay the city after five years of service following training. Councilman Ian Gray agreed with Reid and said, “I do think that five years is probably too much…I would be comfortable with going to a 24-month [reimbursement plan] would be my personal recommendation.” 

Gray’s amendment, which was approved by the council, makes the first year of reimbursement be 100-percent paid for. After that, it goes down by 25-percent each quarter. 

The rest of the council felt that this amendment was needed, and it addressed the concerns of most of its members.