5.4C. SR 07-22-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Personnel Addi~ions: Staff Reorgani~afion J [x 2002 Page 2 of 2 These requests equal about seven full time positions. It is uncertain how many - if any - of these requests can be funded in 2003. In 2002 the city hired an in£ormation technology employee. This hiring was ahead of schedule but was necessary because of the building construction and remodeling projects. Costs for this position will be slightly offset by ending our contract relationship for consulting services with the City of Andover. Nonetheless, this will be an additional budgeted expenditure for the 2003 budget. We will likely see this program grow in the future as our needs increase. For a number of reasons the city will need to increase the staffing and responsibilities of the building maintenance and cleaning program. The reasons for an increase in this program include the new public safety facility being completed in 2003, the Zerwas Cleaning contract ending for the police department, and the general growth in cleaning and maintenance needs for the existing facilities. Currently the Street/Park Superintendent supervises this program and employees. In 2003 it is projected that we will have to add at least one employee in the spring and a second employee is likely sometime in later 2003 or early 2004. Offsetting these additional expenses will be some savings ($12,000 annually) from the police cleaning contract being discontinued. The larger staff for the building maintenance/cleaning program may also provide us with more flexibility in terms of being available both during the workday and after hours, depending on the needs of the department and depending on building security needs when public meetings are held in the City Council Chamber. PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR AND DEPARTMENT The City Council and the Park and Recreation Commission have discussed the need for a park and recreation director and the formation of a park and recreation department a number of times over the past year or so. Attached for your review is the October 2001 report from the Commission regarding this position and department. Included in this report is an organizational chart and an estimate of the budget impacts for the director and staff. The proposal from the Commission calls for the hiring of a park and recreation director in 2003. Additional support staff is then proposed to be hired in 2005. There is no additional revenue associated with these new positions, although better customer service will be provided and the director could be instrumental in the city obtaining grants. I support the establishment of a park and recreation director position and the proposed reorganization whereby a number of departments and department heads would then report to this position. This reorganization will provide better support for the other departments (recreation manager, senior citizen director, and ice arena manager) and will help coordinate and consolidate programs and services. Also, public information and communication on recreation services and opportunities should be less confusing. I do have concerns about a separate maintenance department for parks, but this issue can be sorted out sometime in the future. However, with the above being said, this park and recreation director position is in competition for funding with another very needed city position and department and this city position and department is described below (engineering department and a public services director). I believe that the need is stronger for an engineering department and a public services director than it is for a park and recreation director and department.