MONROE - Alderman Mark Coplien, chairman of the City of Monroe Salary & Personnel Committee, was given the go-ahead from his committee Tuesday to revamp the current administrator job description.
Members of the committee nodded in agreement for Coplien to bring back a slimmed down job description to discuss and change, if they saw the need.
Coplien is calling the new position Executive Director/Human Resource, but "it's just a name," he said.
A position was being suggested by department heads to help them with human resources, and "would help alleviate pressure down the road," Coplien said. But his only concern with hiring an HR person is that there is "not enough (work) to keep (one) busy," he told the committee.
Human resources matters, such as family medical leave, workman's compensation, employee health insurance, maintaining personnel files, filing grievances, placing hiring ads and new employee orientation, is done through the city clerk's office.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said such paperwork has been part of the city clerk's work for years, and probably would remain so. Safety of the workforce falls under the job description of Safety Director Josse Allen.
Coplien said he has been trying to figure out how to create a position that fulfills the needs of department heads when they need help.
In conversations with department heads earlier on Tuesday, it was recommended that the city did not need other parts of an administrator position, Coplien said. For instance, the city has both a city treasurer and an accountant.
"Why not advertise this position at a lesser salary and less responsibility?" Coplien said. "I think 20 years of experience is worth far more than a masters degree."
Since the story about Coplien's idea to create an HR-plus position broke in The Times June 30, Coplien received an e-mail from a department head concerned that the position would be "tainted." However, he said he also received six resumes, including one from an attorney acting as a municipal judge with HR experience; one from a mayor of a town, who is looking to move back to Monroe; and one from a person who already holds an upper level HR position in the city.
Coplien said he did not want to limit the job to city residents, but rather to "open the door a little and let someone who has experience apply."
No amount of pay was discussed at the meeting Tuesday, although Coplien said he believed members had a range in mind.
Alderman Charles Schuringa said he did not like "picking and choosing" parts to eliminate from the administrator's job description to accommodate small things. Having an administrator worked well for him in the past, he said.
Schuringa also said the council should rely on department heads more and leave them alone to do their job.
"Department heads were hired to do their job - let's give them the reigns," he said.
The city probably could come up with the money if the it "can come up with $40,000 for this and that and cutting this back," Schuringa said, referencing the money Mayor Ron Marsh suggested pulling from the budget to fund a transportation utility study.
Alderman Dan Henke said "city planner" would be a better title rather than administrator.
"Part of the administrator's job description is city planner who can look ahead to the next five years for department heads," he said. "Department heads have their hands full."
Henke also wants the position filled in time for the budget process, so that whoever is hired would have some input. The budget process begins in early September.
The next Salary & Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled for July 21. Coplien will have a rewritten job description dispersed to committee members before the meeting.
Members of the committee nodded in agreement for Coplien to bring back a slimmed down job description to discuss and change, if they saw the need.
Coplien is calling the new position Executive Director/Human Resource, but "it's just a name," he said.
A position was being suggested by department heads to help them with human resources, and "would help alleviate pressure down the road," Coplien said. But his only concern with hiring an HR person is that there is "not enough (work) to keep (one) busy," he told the committee.
Human resources matters, such as family medical leave, workman's compensation, employee health insurance, maintaining personnel files, filing grievances, placing hiring ads and new employee orientation, is done through the city clerk's office.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said such paperwork has been part of the city clerk's work for years, and probably would remain so. Safety of the workforce falls under the job description of Safety Director Josse Allen.
Coplien said he has been trying to figure out how to create a position that fulfills the needs of department heads when they need help.
In conversations with department heads earlier on Tuesday, it was recommended that the city did not need other parts of an administrator position, Coplien said. For instance, the city has both a city treasurer and an accountant.
"Why not advertise this position at a lesser salary and less responsibility?" Coplien said. "I think 20 years of experience is worth far more than a masters degree."
Since the story about Coplien's idea to create an HR-plus position broke in The Times June 30, Coplien received an e-mail from a department head concerned that the position would be "tainted." However, he said he also received six resumes, including one from an attorney acting as a municipal judge with HR experience; one from a mayor of a town, who is looking to move back to Monroe; and one from a person who already holds an upper level HR position in the city.
Coplien said he did not want to limit the job to city residents, but rather to "open the door a little and let someone who has experience apply."
No amount of pay was discussed at the meeting Tuesday, although Coplien said he believed members had a range in mind.
Alderman Charles Schuringa said he did not like "picking and choosing" parts to eliminate from the administrator's job description to accommodate small things. Having an administrator worked well for him in the past, he said.
Schuringa also said the council should rely on department heads more and leave them alone to do their job.
"Department heads were hired to do their job - let's give them the reigns," he said.
The city probably could come up with the money if the it "can come up with $40,000 for this and that and cutting this back," Schuringa said, referencing the money Mayor Ron Marsh suggested pulling from the budget to fund a transportation utility study.
Alderman Dan Henke said "city planner" would be a better title rather than administrator.
"Part of the administrator's job description is city planner who can look ahead to the next five years for department heads," he said. "Department heads have their hands full."
Henke also wants the position filled in time for the budget process, so that whoever is hired would have some input. The budget process begins in early September.
The next Salary & Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled for July 21. Coplien will have a rewritten job description dispersed to committee members before the meeting.