MONROE - The Common Council's decision, May 19, to hold off hiring a city administrator indefinitely could give way to filling part of an administrator's duties with a human resources position.
The city's administrator position has been vacant since May 2008.
Mayor Ron Marsh met with officers of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry board about two weeks ago to discuss the creation of the new city position and the possible hiring of MCCI Executive Director Pam Christopher for that position.
Marsh discussed the "creation of a position with a (particular) skill set, a combo of different skills," Chamber and Industry board Vice-chairman Dave Gombosi said.
"Pam was the person talked about," he said.
Gombosi said "Pam does" qualify for the skill set discussed.
Christopher said she was not aware of the city's interest in her fulfilling the proposed position.
"I haven't heard anything about it," she said Friday, in a telephone interview.
Christopher began her position with the Chamber in October 2008.
The City of Monroe currently contracts with MCCI for Christopher's services in economic development for $12,500, plus $2,500 in expenses. The Chamber pays Christopher, as its director, a total salary of about $50,000, but does not offer any health or retirement benefits.
As for Marsh, taking the initiative to find a person to fulfill the yet-uncreated position, Monroe Common Council President Dan Henke said, "The Mayor can do whatever he wants." However, any job creation or hiring would have to go through the Council for approval, he added.
Neither Marsh, nor MCCI Board President Jane Monahan returned several calls for comment Monday.
Alderman Mark Coplien, Salary & Personnel Committee chairman, said he knew Marsh was talking with MCCI, but he did not attend the meeting.
"A few people were considered, but nothing was falling together that the city needs," he said.
Having an economic development and public relations person would help in six committees that Henke is on currently, including the Salary & Personnel and the Finance & Taxation committees.
Henke said he would favor a hybrid job description that combined parts of a city administrator and a city manager. Henke said he would want someone who could write grants and help department heads write grants.
"We need an HR person desperately, and it would take some of the burden off the mayor," he added.
Marsh has been fulfilling the duties of the administrator, since the position was vacated.
Henke said he would like to review Christopher's resume closer, having seen it only when the city contracted MCCI for her services.
Christopher said she does have some human resources experience in writing policy and manuals, as well as overseeing a staff, for larger commerce organizations.
A human resources position, Coplien said, is something he has "looked at creating for a long time," after hearing department heads say they need a human resources person to talk to.
Coplien is bringing the idea to the Salary & Personnel Committee July 7 for members' input. The committee "can add or change" his recommendations, he said.
Coplien will be outlining what the position will need, including business management skills, but human recourses is "definitely a lot of it," he said.
"A lot of people, residents and council members think we need an administrator, but department heads have been doing their duties for a long time, there's not a need for an administrator," Coplien said.
Adding the HR-plus position, and giving department heads the freedom to do their jobs, is "more intelligent ... the right way to go," Coplien said.
He called the HR-plus idea a "last ditch effort for this year." The city budget process is set to begin Sept. 1.
Tom Purdy, MCCI treasurer, attended the meeting with Marsh and said a human resources position pays on average about $35,000.
Henke said a human resource position with extra duties would run from $52,000 to $60,000.
Coplien estimated the city will need $60,000 to 70,000 for the new position, which is more "appropriate than a complete city administrator at a $120,000 salary," he said.
The administrator salary and benefits package was almost $100,000 in 2006, and was budgeted at $129,000 in 2007 and at $136,000 in 2008. The account for an administrator was cut from the 2009 budget. Benefits packages are about one-third of the total costs.
Finding the money for a new position tangles with the city budget constraints and with Marsh's call for almost $2 million annually for street and sidewalk construction.
The city has an operating expense budget of about $10 million.
Based on his estimated cost of the position, Henke said, with the $12,500 cost to MCCI, the city would need to look for only $40,000 more.
That is also the amount needed to implement a proposed transportation utility, but for that cost Marsh suggested using funds from the Street Department and a contingency fund, among other accounts. Once implemented, the transportation utility would replenish that cost. But that risk is based on the utility being implemented.
State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said Monday, the new state budget will cut about 3.8 percent, or $51,000, from Monroe's shared revenues last year, but allows municipalities to increase property taxes 3 percent.
The three percent increase will help, Henke said.
"What we need to do is set priorities," he said. "We'll be looking for dollars and putting priorities down, as any corporation does."
The added costs of an HR-plus position is going to hurt, Coplien admitted.
The city will have to "make cuts to make it work," he said. "It's a necessity that needs to be considered, or we'll have to continue as we have."
In a special meeting May 19, the City of Monroe Common Council heard from Fire Chief Daryl Rausch, whom city department heads chose to represent them.
"Although we see the benefits of an administrator, we don't feel the city should move forward because of the costs involved," Rausch said.
Department heads arrived at their conclusion after a lengthy discussion at a regular Monday morning meeting, Rausch said.
Besides the cost of an administrator, Rausch said department heads were "comfortable working under the system as it is now."
"This Council has been hands-on, involved in the daily operation, and the department heads don't have a problem with that," he said.
The city's administrator position has been vacant since May 2008.
Mayor Ron Marsh met with officers of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry board about two weeks ago to discuss the creation of the new city position and the possible hiring of MCCI Executive Director Pam Christopher for that position.
Marsh discussed the "creation of a position with a (particular) skill set, a combo of different skills," Chamber and Industry board Vice-chairman Dave Gombosi said.
"Pam was the person talked about," he said.
Gombosi said "Pam does" qualify for the skill set discussed.
Christopher said she was not aware of the city's interest in her fulfilling the proposed position.
"I haven't heard anything about it," she said Friday, in a telephone interview.
Christopher began her position with the Chamber in October 2008.
The City of Monroe currently contracts with MCCI for Christopher's services in economic development for $12,500, plus $2,500 in expenses. The Chamber pays Christopher, as its director, a total salary of about $50,000, but does not offer any health or retirement benefits.
As for Marsh, taking the initiative to find a person to fulfill the yet-uncreated position, Monroe Common Council President Dan Henke said, "The Mayor can do whatever he wants." However, any job creation or hiring would have to go through the Council for approval, he added.
Neither Marsh, nor MCCI Board President Jane Monahan returned several calls for comment Monday.
Alderman Mark Coplien, Salary & Personnel Committee chairman, said he knew Marsh was talking with MCCI, but he did not attend the meeting.
"A few people were considered, but nothing was falling together that the city needs," he said.
Having an economic development and public relations person would help in six committees that Henke is on currently, including the Salary & Personnel and the Finance & Taxation committees.
Henke said he would favor a hybrid job description that combined parts of a city administrator and a city manager. Henke said he would want someone who could write grants and help department heads write grants.
"We need an HR person desperately, and it would take some of the burden off the mayor," he added.
Marsh has been fulfilling the duties of the administrator, since the position was vacated.
Henke said he would like to review Christopher's resume closer, having seen it only when the city contracted MCCI for her services.
Christopher said she does have some human resources experience in writing policy and manuals, as well as overseeing a staff, for larger commerce organizations.
A human resources position, Coplien said, is something he has "looked at creating for a long time," after hearing department heads say they need a human resources person to talk to.
Coplien is bringing the idea to the Salary & Personnel Committee July 7 for members' input. The committee "can add or change" his recommendations, he said.
Coplien will be outlining what the position will need, including business management skills, but human recourses is "definitely a lot of it," he said.
"A lot of people, residents and council members think we need an administrator, but department heads have been doing their duties for a long time, there's not a need for an administrator," Coplien said.
Adding the HR-plus position, and giving department heads the freedom to do their jobs, is "more intelligent ... the right way to go," Coplien said.
He called the HR-plus idea a "last ditch effort for this year." The city budget process is set to begin Sept. 1.
Tom Purdy, MCCI treasurer, attended the meeting with Marsh and said a human resources position pays on average about $35,000.
Henke said a human resource position with extra duties would run from $52,000 to $60,000.
Coplien estimated the city will need $60,000 to 70,000 for the new position, which is more "appropriate than a complete city administrator at a $120,000 salary," he said.
The administrator salary and benefits package was almost $100,000 in 2006, and was budgeted at $129,000 in 2007 and at $136,000 in 2008. The account for an administrator was cut from the 2009 budget. Benefits packages are about one-third of the total costs.
Finding the money for a new position tangles with the city budget constraints and with Marsh's call for almost $2 million annually for street and sidewalk construction.
The city has an operating expense budget of about $10 million.
Based on his estimated cost of the position, Henke said, with the $12,500 cost to MCCI, the city would need to look for only $40,000 more.
That is also the amount needed to implement a proposed transportation utility, but for that cost Marsh suggested using funds from the Street Department and a contingency fund, among other accounts. Once implemented, the transportation utility would replenish that cost. But that risk is based on the utility being implemented.
State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said Monday, the new state budget will cut about 3.8 percent, or $51,000, from Monroe's shared revenues last year, but allows municipalities to increase property taxes 3 percent.
The three percent increase will help, Henke said.
"What we need to do is set priorities," he said. "We'll be looking for dollars and putting priorities down, as any corporation does."
The added costs of an HR-plus position is going to hurt, Coplien admitted.
The city will have to "make cuts to make it work," he said. "It's a necessity that needs to be considered, or we'll have to continue as we have."
In a special meeting May 19, the City of Monroe Common Council heard from Fire Chief Daryl Rausch, whom city department heads chose to represent them.
"Although we see the benefits of an administrator, we don't feel the city should move forward because of the costs involved," Rausch said.
Department heads arrived at their conclusion after a lengthy discussion at a regular Monday morning meeting, Rausch said.
Besides the cost of an administrator, Rausch said department heads were "comfortable working under the system as it is now."
"This Council has been hands-on, involved in the daily operation, and the department heads don't have a problem with that," he said.