Laserfiche WebLink
capital. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley noted that Ramsey.'s staffing level is way below that of <br />comparable communities; Ramsey is getting a bargain with a public works <br />department of 4; but he is concerned with the work that is not getting <br />done and privatization can be used to address those areas. <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann stated that the public works department took all winter to <br />clear right-of-ways and that is poor management; employee time should be <br />used in ~he most effective way with those tasks most effectively contracted <br />out being so; paying prime rate to get fill-in work done is not good <br />management. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that he will prepare a list of tasks the are being <br />accomplished and those tasks that are not being accomplished throughout the <br />City and a recommendation for those most effectively accomplished in-house <br />and those that should be contracted out. The major issue is an appropriate <br />level of service being provided and the appropriate staffing levels and <br />appropriate contracting out required to do so. Mr. Hartley noted that fill- <br />in work has it's value; it is tasks that have to get done eventually and it <br />keeps employees busy during slack times. <br /> <br />Councilmember DeLuca questioned whether the time accounting methods being <br />used are accurate as Council needs an accurate information base on which to <br />base decisions regarding contracting out. <br /> <br />Councilmember COx stated that in the private sector, when the work is slow <br />the employees get laid off; in government, when work is slow, insignificant <br />tasks are assigned to cons~e employee time. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that an accurate analysis of cost and manhours to <br />accomplish a task is very difficult to do; he can do the analysis but it <br />should not be viewed dollar for dollar; a large span between what a task is <br />costing and would cost to contract out should be cause for review. <br /> <br />Council requested that one of the tasks Mr. Hartley does a cost analysis on <br />be the maintenance of the sewer and water system. <br /> <br />Case~5.- Flusher/Water Truck Conversion: <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley reported that the bids for conversion of the water truck are <br />still good. <br /> <br />Councilmember COx stated inquired if the rigidity of the specs weren't <br />unnecessarily driving up the cost of the truck conversion. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley replied that the conversion work to be done is expensive <br />because the fittings will meet national fire standards enabling the vehicle <br />to be used as a water truck for a fire department. <br /> <br />Councilms~ber DeLuca noted that the specs for the one-ton truck also seem <br />to cause excessive cost. <br /> <br />March 31, 1987 <br /> <br />Page 6 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />