Agenda - Council - 01/09/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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increase in clerical in Administrative Services from 4.5 FTE's to 5.0 FTE's. One intent of the hour increase is as clerical overload for vacation coverage or periods of increased work flow needs. Second, during September and October, the Police Department has been contracting for outside clerical support averaging six hours each week. It is intended that outsourcing clerical tasks be reduced from this level by more fully balancing the use of existing staff. He pointed out them are no requested changes in Finance or Assessing. There is nothing really significant requested for the Engineering and Community Development Departments but we are requesting that the allocation for intern time be increased from 0.25 FTE's to 0,75 FTE's. Between the two departments, we would intend to gain the services of 2080 hours of landscape architect internship time and 1040 hours of general public administrative intern support. Mr. Schroeder continued that there are no changes requested in Street Maintenance, Building Maintenance or BLfilding Inspections. There is also no additional police officer requested for 1996. An additional regular full-time Public Works Maintenance Worker position has been requested for 1996. In return, there has been a reduction in the temporary personnel as well as Environmental Services. It is expected that the 0.35 FTE Environmental Specialist position will be removed from the budget in order to create the full-time maintenance position. Such position would be allocated 104 hours to environmental services, 208 hours to utilities, 520 hours to snow removal, and 1,248 hours to park maintenance. Mr. Schroeder inquired if the Personnel Committee is in agreement with all or some of these requests/changes and if not, what they would propose. LuAnn Koskinen, Business Representative for AFSCME Local 2454, referred to the proposal to remove the Environmental Specialist position and inquired if that was a lay-off of Mr. Bacon. Environmental Specialist Bacon summarized his experiences in the City of Rarnsey and how his position developed from a Tree Inspector since 1977. He spoke about organic farming and tree care and how he felt he has benefitted and grown in his job. He disseminated a list of some of the projects he has participated in. He explained that his position was funded from landfill abatement dollars and now, after a lot of years of wanting, the landfill is closed. Councitmember Beahen inquired how this would affect Mr. Bacon's position. Mr. Schroeder replied there are various options, t) a Iay off; 2) eliminate full-time position to provide funding for pan-time position; 3) he could apply for the position proposed to be advertised; 4) we could take funds from other areas to provide on-going funding for his present position; or 5) take funds from other areas and reconfigure the position to some extent. He reported that he had met with Mr. Bacon and they had discussed inspections in other areas such as code enforcement. Mayor Hardin stated he is in agreement with what's proposed. As it relates to the issue of the Environmental Specialist, he felt he would like to see what other options are available and how they will affect the City in the long run. Councilmember Beyer stated that eliminating this position and bringing in someone new would be a total disservice to the residents because of Mr. Bacon's experience and expertise. She reminded the Committee that Mr. Bacon had been with the City for 18 years. She voiced that she would be in favor of an added maintenance position but that the Environmental Specialist position should be left alone, as is. Mr. Schroeder asked if the Personnel Committee is convinced there is a need for a full-time position in the Public Works"? Personnel Committee/November 14, 1995 Page 2 of 5 ! I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I