By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly Position Subcommittee will hold its first meeting Friday to make recommendations on whether to fill 12 city staff positions that are currently open.
Deputy Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz is chairman of the committee. Other members are Richard Wein and Valorie Nelson.
The current Assembly implemented a hiring freeze and established the subcommittee at its May 14 meeting with a goal of reviewing whether open positions should be filled, and whether efficiencies may be achieved. The subcommittee will forward its decisions to the Assembly.
Positions now open are planning director, police chief, four police officers, jail officer, human resources director, street maintenance, community affairs director, lease manager and grant administrator.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The first item up for discussion will be subcommittee guidelines, followed by the review of open positions, with recommendations on filling them.
“I would like to have a serious and realistic discussion as to what positions should be filled at this moment, what positions can possibly be eliminated, and what positions we need to fill now,” Wein said. “I don’t know how it’s going to go. This is in a way new ground.”
City Administrator Keith Brady this week announced his selection of interim police chief Robert Baty for the permanent position as chief, but that appointment is subject to the Assembly’s approval of the salary and benefits offered. Brady’s choice for planning director was turned down by the Assembly, and the human resources director and community affairs director recently resigned. A few positions that have opened up are new, including a lease manager and grant administrator as a contract position.
Wein said he thinks the new committee may not be a permanent body, and should not slow the hiring process.
“I’m happy to meet any day of the week and at any time in order to fill positions so there is no delay in city functions,” he said. “Some of the positions are new, which will be problematic at this time.”
Wein said he’s interested in getting more information to the Assembly.
“The Assembly is the governing body and needs to have as much information as possible in order to help define what the budget is,” he said. “In the past it seems as though there hasn’t been as much oversight ... This committee represents a filter for city hiring. It’s not meant to be an obstruction.”
Assembly member Kevin Knox voted against appointing a subcommittee. He said today it gets too far into the administrator’s role.
“I feel it’s micromanaging the administrator’s duties,” he said. “The Assembly approves a budget that contains recommendations and desired FTEs (full time equivalent positions) and it’s the administrator’s job to implement it. For us to get into this level of micromanagement, we’re stepping beyond the powers and duties of the Assembly.”
The meeting is open to the public. Brady and City Clerk Sara Peterson plan to attend.
