PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — City Council approved a number of personnel changes and the restructuring of several departments — measures taken to help keep the 2011 budget in line with last year’s and prevent the need to raise the mil rate.
During a workshop prior to Council’s July 6 meeting, City Manager Jim Bennett gave a presentation highlighting the changes and what it means for city employees.
“We’ve cut seven positions, saving $338,000 in the budget,” Bennett told councilors. “We’ve combined the Solid Waste and Public Works departments to create a new department called Public Services,” said Bennett.
In addition, Bennett said payroll has been moved from the Human Resources Department to the Finance Department.
“Adoption of this policy is on the books for tonight. You’ll also have to change the ordinance with regard to public government, setting public hearings,” he said.
With the shift in governance come changes in staffing duties.
“The way we envisioned it would work, Dana (Fowler, director of Solid Waste) would take over as director of Public Services. Dana’s background also includes oversight of road construction projects. He’s assisted the city with engineering questions for the past several years,” said the city manager.
Under the new plan, councilors would then create a deputy director of Public Works and not fill the director position or that of director of Solid Waste, said Bennett.
“By eliminating that position (director of Public Works), it would save almost $62,000 in the budget,” said Bennett.
Public Works Director Gerry James bid farewell later in the meeting during his retirement speech. Jim Kaiser has been serving as interim director for the past few months.
Bennett said he thought Fowler was capable of managing both departments.
“He may just have to change the way he’s doing things — hand down some things,” he said, admitting to councilors that it was unlikely as much would get done as was possible with two separate directors but that the shift was necessary to save money.
“Can he get as much done as the old structure? The answer is ‘no.’ If money were no object, we wouldn’t change. The structure recommended to you is not as efficient in operation but with it we’re not raising tax dollars and stressing the budget,” Bennett said.
He acknowledged it would be “a fine line with the union” however.
“Be aware I’m eliminating a union position as foreman. Expect discussion on that ahead,” said the city manager.
Bennett discussed the hiring of Larry DeMerchant as deputy director of Public Works – a decision councilors approved later in the evening.
Councilor Don Gardner asked what would become of Jim Kaiser, who’s been acting director of Public Works since Gerry James retired. Bennett said Kaiser would remain to assist Fowler, noting the duties at Public Works “have been a stretch for him, but his work ethic and attitude are great for us.”
Councilors discussed the plan at length with Bennett, talking responsibilities involved in the changes for each department and how the reducing the number of employees would affect remaining employees. Compensation for added duties was also discussed.
“We’re working to try to instill in employees how valuable every dollar is, as it comes from some pocket. When employees step up and take that kind of responsibility, we won’t need as much control,” he said.
Councilor Randy Smith said he’d support the proposed changes.
“I’m very encouraged with the direction here – that we might be viable in the next two years,” said Randy Smith.
Council Chair Emily Smith also expressed her support of the plan.
“I can support this new structure. I like saving money. I also saw with Larry that it was glaringly obvious he was the right person for the job. He’s a really good choice for the city,” said Emily Smith.
Later in the session, councilors voted to approve changes to the Administration Government Policy. Changes included striking listings for the Forum (which was combined in the past year with the Recreation and Parks Department) and Public Works from the list of city departments and adding Public Services to the list. Revisions were made to the Finance Department, with the city clerk now directly answering to City Council. Emergency Management and code enforcement became the responsibility of the fire chief.
Changes were also made to the Planning and Development Department, removing responsibilities for code enforcement, tax assessing and emergency management.
The newly-created Public Services Department will combine the duties of Public Works, Solid Waste and building/facilities under Fowler’s management. The combining of the Recreation and Parks Department and the Forum will continue under Director Chris Beaulieu.
Bennett said net employment reductions for 2010 saw the elimination of: the administrative assistant at the airport, two firefighters, the code enforcement officer, the aquatics supervisor and a recreation maintenance person, resulting in an annual savings of $338,000. The 2011 eliminations of the Public Works director, the Solid Waste director, Public Works foreman and the creation of a Public Services director and deputy Public Works director resulted in a savings of $61,975.
Councilors also confirmed Bennett’s appointment of Fowler as director of Public Services.
The changes also resulted in several individuals being compensated for taking on extra duties, according to Bennett. Councilors approved a salary change for Finance Director Pat Webb to $60,955, effective July 10. Fowler’s salary will be $65,624, as of Sept. 4. The fire chief’s salary, effective July 10, will be $63,919. Beaulieu’s salary beginning July 10 will be $52,339. Kaiser will receive a one-time bonus of just over $2,462. In addition to the salary changes, individuals also saw placement adjustments, with each being moved up one level on the city’s employment scale.
