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Ramsey Public Works/Fire Recommendations <br />March 2, 2006 <br />Page 2 <br />Recommendations <br />It is our opinion that this transitional arrangement is in the City's best interests. It will provide for <br />adequate supervision of the departments involved, help the City move to a more appropriate management <br />structure as it grows, and retain the services of two valued senior employees. Ultimately, the City will be <br />required to adapt its current structure to handle an increasing workload in many of its functional areas. <br />This, of necessity, is a first step in that direction. We recommend the following elements in support of <br />this structural change: <br />1. The overlapping transitional authority which will exist between the Fire Chief and the Public <br />Works Director should end on a specified date. As this occurs, there should be a clear separation <br />of identity for the departments in the City's publications, official information sites and in any <br />formal Council and City documents. <br />2. The City should move to hire a senior engineer to accommodate the anticipated workload of the <br />engineering department and to allow the new Public Works Director the time to become familiar <br />with all aspects of public works operations. <br />3. The City should plan for the eventual creation of a Public Works Superintendent position which <br />will have daily supervision responsibilities for work crews and project management. <br />4. During the transitional period, the Fire Chief and the Public Works Director will serve as <br />department heads of equal stature. In addition, the Fire Chief will serve as an employee of the <br />Public Works Director for certain specific duties. Our belief is that these two individuals have <br />demonstrated an excellent working relationship in the past and will continue to do so. It is, <br />however, in everyone's best interests to put a procedure in place to resolve any disputes that may <br />arise between two employees of equal status. <br />In the current situation, we are aware that capital improvement issues have already been decided. <br />It is possible, but not anticipated, that there could be disagreement over the direction and <br />evaluation of personnel. In such an event, an appeal procedure should be in place that provides <br />for a hearing before the City Administrator. Such issues would typically end with his decision. <br />Conclusion: <br />Springsted believes that the City of Ramsey will best be served by a Public Works Department that has <br />coordinated oversight between engineering and operations. We firmly believe that the separation of <br />the Fire Department from Public Works is appropriate at this time. The working relationship between <br />managers in these functional areas has been good and should continue. Both share a common vision <br />for the City and a loyalty to its personal service mission. The City has before it the opportunity to <br />retain two experienced and valued employees. We believe the proposed transitional structure will be <br />consistent with the findings of the larger study when it is concluded, and is appropriate to achieving <br />the City's goals. k <br />"IT <br />I'�J�PrYVwt �i <br />S,e <br />