By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly Position Subcommittee Monday recommended hiring replacements to fill a number of vacant positions in the city government, but approved filling only two of the four police patrol positions Chief Robert Baty had requested.
The subcommittee was formed following a hiring freeze the Assembly set in April. Before any position is filled, it is to be reviewed by the subcommittee and given final approval by the Assembly.
Members of the subcommittee are Valorie Nelson, Richard Wein and Chairman Steven Eisenbeisz.
Subcommittee members and city staff said all of the recommendations were approved 3-0 and will go to the Assembly for a final decision at the Aug. 13 meeting.
An empty Sitka city office is pictured today. (Sentinel Photo)
The panel recommended hiring a part-time library assistant to replace someone who resigned; a second temporary person to scan printed city records into an electronic system; a temporary customer service clerk in the utility office; and a police department dispatcher and two patrol officers.
Clerks
Currently, one person holds the temporary records scanning position, which isn’t enough to get the job done in a timely manner, City Clerk Sara Peterson said, explaining the need for another temporary worker.
Some of the city’s records are kept in a leased space in Shee Atika’s Sealing Cove Business Center on Alice Island, and the city is in the process of converting the files into an electronic format for efficiency and access to the public, she said.
A second temporary clerk, at $14 per hour, would help get the job done faster, and also meet the city’s goal of moving out of the space, ultimately saving money, Peterson said.
On the utility clerk position, the subcommittee was told that it will be temporary until mid-October, when the regular clerk returns from family leave.
Police Department
One of the dispatcher positions became vacant after a dispatcher on extended leave tendered her resignation. A second has been open for months, Baty said.
In his memo to the subcommittee, Baty said high turnover has been a problem in the dispatch position, and requested authority to advertise immediately to fill the vacancy.
“I am requesting approval for an open recruitment for all and any full-time dispatch positions to be filled as they become available. There has been a high turnover within dispatch historically. I would like the ability to advertise as soon as the position is vacated in the hopes of getting applicants sooner and filling the position. ...” Baty said in his request.
He also asked for permission to fill the dispatch positions as they become vacant, instead of going through the Assembly subcommittee process.
Subcommittee members said they would make the recommendation to the full Assembly to exempt the dispatch position from the subcommittee review process.
The subcommittee approved filling only two of the four vacant police patrol positions, and told Baty to come back later for permission to hire more.
Baty told the Sentinel today that among the challenges of hiring new officers is the lengthy process that is required before an applicant can be hired. Other issues are the shortage of people entering the field and the intense competition for experienced officers.
Nelson said today that she was OK with recommending the hire of two, instead of four, new officers at this time. She cited the ongoing litigation and vacancies in high-level positions in the city government. Presently, the positions of administrator, human resources director and planning director are open.
Nelson said she told Baty he could talk directly to the Assembly at its Aug. 13 meeting, if he wanted to pursue additional hires beyond the two recommended by the subcommittee.
