MONROE - The city's Salary and Personnel Committee is trying again to alleviate some of the additional duties that have befallen the city administrator and other staff members in the past 18 months.
Committee members Wednesday authorized recruiting a combined city administrator assistant and safety director. The new assistant could also be used to help in the city clerk's office as needed.
How to fund the position, however, was an immediate concern for some members. City Administrator Phil Rath said the costs for the position for the remainder of this year could be covered by an unexpected refund from the state unemployment fund received late last year, but committee member Reid Stangel wanted the city to remain cautious about financing the position next year.
He said he didn't want to hire someone now, only to have the position cut at budget time this fall.
Tyler Schultz said he thought the position was "unnecessary," and was not in favor of it, partly because of funding. He also said he believes Rath could continue with the additional duties placed under him.
But continuing with duties at the status quo did not set well with Rath.
"I got hired for one position (city administrator)," Rath said, "and got dumped with (the duties of) two other positions."
Since Rath was hired in December 2010, he has taken up the duties of a public works director and airport manager and a part-time position of safety director.
"The work was absorbed," Rath said, "it didn't go away. It was laid on the city administrator to do, as well as six other employees."
The committee had considered hiring a director of public works last month on Rath's recommendation, but pulled back on the idea after department heads recommended not hiring, saying they felt operations had been going smoothly without one.
Committee member Brooke Bauman said she could see an assistant doing research for Rath to fulfill requests by the council, and could be paid by the "savings from people who have left or are leaving."
An assistant would also be tasked with researching trends or coming changes, Rath added, which would give the city the advantage of a longer-range view for planning.
"What city administrators are making in other cities is six figures," Bauman said. "(We're) giving him (Rath) more and more to do, and then we're frustrated when they don't get done."
Rath receives a salary of about $75,000, plus benefits, as Monroe's city administrator.
Stangel agreed with Bauman, saying an assistant would allow Rath to do what he was hired for, and he recommended hiring an assistant would be a way to show the benefits of the position before the 2013 budget considerations.
Committee members intend to review the position and the person hired in six months. The position would be nonunion.
Committee members Wednesday authorized recruiting a combined city administrator assistant and safety director. The new assistant could also be used to help in the city clerk's office as needed.
How to fund the position, however, was an immediate concern for some members. City Administrator Phil Rath said the costs for the position for the remainder of this year could be covered by an unexpected refund from the state unemployment fund received late last year, but committee member Reid Stangel wanted the city to remain cautious about financing the position next year.
He said he didn't want to hire someone now, only to have the position cut at budget time this fall.
Tyler Schultz said he thought the position was "unnecessary," and was not in favor of it, partly because of funding. He also said he believes Rath could continue with the additional duties placed under him.
But continuing with duties at the status quo did not set well with Rath.
"I got hired for one position (city administrator)," Rath said, "and got dumped with (the duties of) two other positions."
Since Rath was hired in December 2010, he has taken up the duties of a public works director and airport manager and a part-time position of safety director.
"The work was absorbed," Rath said, "it didn't go away. It was laid on the city administrator to do, as well as six other employees."
The committee had considered hiring a director of public works last month on Rath's recommendation, but pulled back on the idea after department heads recommended not hiring, saying they felt operations had been going smoothly without one.
Committee member Brooke Bauman said she could see an assistant doing research for Rath to fulfill requests by the council, and could be paid by the "savings from people who have left or are leaving."
An assistant would also be tasked with researching trends or coming changes, Rath added, which would give the city the advantage of a longer-range view for planning.
"What city administrators are making in other cities is six figures," Bauman said. "(We're) giving him (Rath) more and more to do, and then we're frustrated when they don't get done."
Rath receives a salary of about $75,000, plus benefits, as Monroe's city administrator.
Stangel agreed with Bauman, saying an assistant would allow Rath to do what he was hired for, and he recommended hiring an assistant would be a way to show the benefits of the position before the 2013 budget considerations.
Committee members intend to review the position and the person hired in six months. The position would be nonunion.