Agenda - Council - 09/14/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I '1 ! I I I I I ! I I I PC CASE #: o~ PART TIME PUBLIC WORKS MECHANIC POSITION By: Joyce Pruitt Hottinger, Administrative Services Manager & Dean Kapler, Public Works Director Background: The Personnel Committee discussed the advantage of creating a half-time Public Works mechanic position, rather than contracting out services at the August 24~h meeting. From that discussion, Staff was directed to prepare a case for creating a half-time Public Works mechanic position. As Council will recall, the benefits of having an in-house mechanic would be availability of vehicles, as they would be repaired after hours, and ease in scheduling repairs and inspections. Typically, a skilled mechanic maintains and repairs automobiles, trucks and heavy-duty street equipment and construction machinery. A mechanic would also typically perform major overhauls requiring a high level of mechanic skills and retains records on repairs performed. Generally, minimum mechanic qualifications range from two to four years of experience performing skilled duties involving repair of various vehicles/machinery or equivalent education and training. At this time, it is felt that a part-time mechanic would satisfy the light maintenance needs of the department. Should significant cost savings be established, it may be beneficial to review the possibility of a full-time mechanic in future years. A survey of communities found the average 1999 minimum salary range was $16.14/hour and the average maximum hourly wage is $18.97/hour. Staff is proposing a part-time mechanic receive an hourly wage of $17.64/hour @ 40 hours per pay period =$705.60/pay period. Additional benefits like PERA ($36.55/40 hours), FICA ($43.75/40 hours), Medicare ($10.23/40 hours) and Workers' Compensation ($28.58/40 hours) would cost the City approximately $824.71/pay period, or $1649.42/monthly. Payment of the part-time mechanic wage is proposed to be transferred from the Machinery and Equipment Repair line items from Street Maintenance, Snow and Ice Removal and Parks and Recreation funds. Public Works Director Kapler feels confident the department's vehicle repair budget line item could absorb the wage of$17.64/hour ~ not to exceed 20 hours/week. The mechanic position would be included with the AFSCME bargaining unit and would be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Training is projected to be minimal for the position; an every other year re-certification for MnDOT inspections at approximately $100- $200/every two years. Public Works Director/Fire ChiefKapler is confident the required tool needs could be obtained from the current budget to make the position operate efficiently.