One Albert Lea police officer received his layoff notice Thursday night, City Manager Victoria Simonsen said during the Albert Lea City Council’s Thursday workshop.

According to union policies, the layoff notice went to the most junior officer, Steve Charboneau, who started with the department in October 2008.

Simonsen said the city and the Teamsters Local 320 union, which represents the majority of the city’s police officers, have reached a tentative agreement in negotiations, but that agreement does not include anything about saving the position.

She said the union has thus far not responded with any ideas for coming up with the money to save the officer — or even part of the salary so the city could come up with the remaining portion.

“Hopefully, if they’re going to negotiate, they’ll be back at the table,” the city manager said.

The future of the officer’s position has been in limbo for several months after the City Council had to cut more than $1 million from its 2010 budget and the

Police Department failed to find grant funding to save the position.

In December, the council officially approved its budget, appropriating $3.68 million of the total $13.59 million budget in expenditures to the Police Department. However, this was still $70,000 shy of what was needed to fund the position.

After the December meeting, City Finance Director Rhonda Moen said the position could be saved depending on one of three things: negotiations with the union, shifting costs within the department’s budget or appropriating a portion of the fire and police interest earnings to cover the position.

Funds could not be transferred from one department to another.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said it is unfortunate the layoff had to happen.

“We’d hoped to avoid it,” Winkels said. “Nobody forsaw the collapse of last year, and we’re still feeling it. If things don’t turn around there’ll be more changes next year. We just hope we’ll survive it.”

The tentative agreement between Teamsters and the city will be voted on during the Monday night Albert Lea City Council meeting.

That contract shows a 0 percent cost-of-living wage increase, with eligible employees receiving a step increase mid-year.

The employee contribution toward health insurance would remain the same as 2009 with the city picking up 100 percent of the increase, according to the tentative agreement.

Police Department failed to find grant funding to save the position.

In December, the council officially approved its budget, appropriating $3.68 million of the total $13.59 million budget in expenditures to the Police Department. However, this was still $70,000 shy of what was needed to fund the position.

After the December meeting, City Finance Director Rhonda Moen said the position could be saved depending on one of three things: negotiations with the union, shifting costs within the department’s budget or appropriating a portion of the fire and police interest earnings to cover the position.

Funds could not be transferred from one department to another.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said it is unfortunate the layoff had to happen.

“We’d hoped to avoid it,” Winkels said. “Nobody forsaw the collapse of last year, and we’re still feeling it. If things don’t turn around there’ll be more changes next year. We just hope we’ll survive it.”

The tentative agreement between Teamsters and the city will be voted on during the Monday night Albert Lea City Council meeting.

That contract shows a 0 percent cost-of-living wage increase, with eligible employees receiving a step increase mid-year.

The employee contribution toward health insurance would remain the same as 2009 with the city picking up 100 percent of the increase, according to the tentative agreement.