By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city definitely needs to fill the positions of police chief and planning director, but perhaps should explore other options for human resources and community affairs directors.
Those were among the recommendations of the new Assembly Position Subcommittee, which met for the first time Friday. The three members of the subcommittee are Richard Wein, Valorie Nelson and Chairman Steven Eisenbeisz.
The meeting at Harrigan Centennial Hall was attended by a handful of city staff members and members of the public.
In their attempts to cut costs the Assembly implemented a hiring freeze and appointed a three-member subcommittee to review whether vacant positions should be filled. The recommendations go to the Assembly for a final decision.
There were 12 vacant positions on the list the subcommittee considered. The vote was 3-0 to fill most, but the group split on the question of replacing Matthew Ione as human resources director. Ione has give notice that he is resigning from the position. In response to job search already underway, the city has received six applications for the position.
Valorie Nelson and Richard Wein voted in favor of exploring other options for the position, such as contracting out services.
Eisenbeisz disagreed.
“I need to know there’s a place employees can come in confidentially and speak about workplace issues,” he said. “That’s a huge safeguard HR provides.”
City Administrator Keith Brady said the human resources director is a “complex” position, who works on such issues as union negotiations, legal issues and grievances. He recommended filling the position.
Sitka Fire Chief Dave Miller asked the Assembly subcommittee to remember that the HR department also handles issues related to the fire department’s approximately 150 volunteers.
The subcommittee meeting lasted about an hour, with some items taking only a few minutes to consider before being approved. Those included the positions of police chief, planning director, jail officer and two police officers.
The group was also unified in holding off on filling the Community Affairs Director, until the duties of the position are clarified. Maegan Bosak, who currently holds the position but has been out on leave, has resigned to take a job at SEARHC.
“This is a potentially moving target,” Wein said, noting a recent consultant study that recommended changes in the management structure at city hall.
The so-called Gallagher study has recommended changing the community affairs position into the new position of deputy administrator.
Wein suggested more discussion at the Assembly table.
Eisenbeisz said the duties of the community affairs director are “vital to the city, but for me I need to know what this job is going to be, what you anticipate this being,” he said. “Until I know what the position is, I’ll go with the recommendation to postpone.”
The vote was 3-0 to postpone a decision on community affairs.
The subcommittee agreed to hold off on creating the position of lease manager. Brady had recommended it as a full-time, benefited position.
There are more than 100 leases of city property in effect, and no one is officially designated to manage them, Brady said. He said the city may be losing income since leaseholders are expected to adjust their lease payments according to the cost price index.
“Potentially this could pay for itself very quickly, very easily,” Brady said.
Eisenbeisz said he would need to hear a “stronger case” for the position as a full-time benefited position, as recommended by Brady.
Wein said he reviewed all of the city’s current leases and noted that many of them are long-term, extending out to 55 years.
“I was befuddled on how it’s become unmanageable,” he said.
The committee also recommended exploring options for filling the role of grant writer who would also administer grants. Brady said after the meeting the role of the position will be to work with the finance department and make sure the city is complying with grants. Currently the work is being done by the finance department staff.
Gallagher Consultants
The information packet for the meeting included the report commissioned by the city from the Gallagher management consulting firm on improving the management structure at city hall.
The consultant recommended reducing the number of department heads reporting to the administrator from 13 to six, one of whom would hold the new position of deputy administrator. The others who would report directly to the administrator would be the public works and utility director, the finance director, human resources director, municipal clerk, and the chief of public safety, a position that the city does not have at present.
The following departments would report to the deputy administrator: Harrigan Centennial Hall manager, library director, and Planning and Community Development director.
Water, wastewater, harbors, building maintenance and grounds, and electric departments would report to the Public Works and Utility chief; information systems, assessing and grant writing divisions would report to the finance director; and fire and police departments would be under the public safety director.
