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Burton is in no rish to hire administrator
(by Mike Klimko - March 11, 2011)
Burton is in no rish to hire administrator
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Burton Village officials agreed Monday there is no rush to hire a village administrator or service supervisor.
A committee made up of Mayor Thomas Blair Sr., members of Village Council and the village's board of public affairs agreed to put the issue on the back burner for now.
The committee, which began looking at the benefits of such positions last year, agreed to take no action for now. Instead, the committee said it would see how the village's water, sewer and street departments work during the initial months of the year, before revisiting the issue at the end of June or beginning of July.
The committee had taken a two-month sabbatical on the topic for the holidays, but met to review a draft job description for a services supervisor.
That job description outlines the qualifications and responsibilities of a position titled supervisor of Burton Village Services.
The job would require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some advanced education in business or public administration, management or other related fields is desirable. Experience in personnel supervision is required.
The position's responsibilities includes supervision and participation in the operation, repair, construction and maintenance of all village infrastructure.
It also seeks to cross-train workers in the various departments so all may perform work in whatever area is required.
The position oversees a long-term capital improvement plan for the village and reports to council on the department's activities.
Councilman Craig Ronyak started the session asking whether the village would be adding another person to the payroll while maintaining current staffing levels.
Mr. Blair said it would, noting that the new position is expected to make the village operate more efficiently.
Mr. Ronyak, who has expressed reservations about the new position, previously asked the issue be placed before voters to ultimately decide the issue.
Village Fiscal Officer Christopher Paquette said to prepare for the November ballot, council will need to introduce a resolution in May and hold three readings before passage.
BPA Chairman Curt Johnson asked that the job description include basic computer skills.
Mr. Blair said the job description does not require the person to be able to write grants. However, he said, it is expected that the person should be able to direct the village toward grants that would be beneficial to the village.
Although the conversation initially dealt with the job description, it turned toward whether such a position is even needed.
"Is there stuff not getting done?" Mr. Ronyak asked.
BPA member Judy Beaumier said council members are part-time positions and a full-time person is needed to oversee the day-to-day operations. She said it would help with accountability.
Mr. Blair said one of the most important functions of the position would be to coordinate the efforts of the street, water and sewer workers. He said the person would not be sitting behind a desk, but would be out working. "I think it will benefit the village in the long run," he said.
Mr. Ronyak said many of those workers are already beginning to work together. He said the village should not be considering spending more money for the new position when it is also asking residents to accept increases in water and sewer rates that could be as high as 50 percent.
Mr. Blair said he agreed that the village is not in a position to be spending money at this time.
Councilman Charles Hauser said workers have to be accountable for the time, noting that has not always been the case. He said the departments are about to enter a season when they're busiest. He said the village also is short one worker.
Mrs. Beaumier said there may be a person already on the payroll, who for a little more money, could perform the work of supervisor. She said the person also gets along with everyone in the village.
But, Mr. Ronyak said, Burton is not a big city where the various departments deal with issues every day. "If we were a big city where things happen all the time it would make sense," he said.
He said the village should make changes with the department heads if they are not properly directing their crews. In the private sector, he said, employers would make changes rather than hire someone to handle any problems.
"If there was a huge problem I could see moving forward with this," Mr. Ronyak said. "But, I don't see a huge problem to justify this."
Mr. Hauser, who serves as council's liaison with the various departments, said operations are now running smoothly.
Mr. Ronyak said village officials should take a wait-and-see approach to see how workers respond this year.
Mr. Johnson said officials need to watch how well the various departments mesh in their duties. "Working together is the critical piece," he said.
Mr. Paquette said the ballot issue could still go forward if the committee decides at a later date that the position is needed.
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