MONROE - The Swiss Colony has offered to audit the City of Monroe's human resources (HR) functions.
The Times received Swiss Colony's proposal from the city late Friday afternoon. The city's Salary and Personnel Committee plans to discuss and possibly authorize acceptance of the proposal at its meeting at 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at City Hall.
"The object of Swiss Colony Human Resources Department working with the local government entities is a result of the understanding of the local playing field," the proposal states. "The human resource area is very specialized and is sprinkled with many mine fields that can prove both costly and ineffective if not handled properly."
As part of its audit, Swiss Colony proposes to review forms being used, policies in force, or not in force, procedures for handling issues, job responsibilities and supervisory roles.
Former City Administrator Mark Vahlsing handled HR functions before being terminated by the City Council by an 8-2 vote May 13 for failure to perform some of his HR duties.
After conducting the audit, Swiss Colony would report its findings based on research and interviews with "key department heads."
The report would highlight what is working and can be sustained, things that need modification and items that need to be changed immediately to avoid future problems. The report would offer suggested solutions.
Salary and Personnel Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said the city's human resources materials were out of date.
"It's so outdated I don't know how the city was able to function," Coplien said. "With HR systems, the problem is there is so much, it's so overwhelming."
Mayor Ron Marsh declined to speak about Tuesday's meeting until Monday morning.
Swiss Colony President John Baumann said Swiss Colony's HR department is large and sophisticated and can help the city.
"We've probably encountered any and every issue you can," Baumann said. "Anything we can do to help the city or the county, it makes sense to do that."
Swiss Colony has been helping the Green County Humane Society with HR and financial responsibilities since January.
Swiss Colony will cover the initial review, including discovery and suggestion stages. If the city decides that more is needed from Swiss Colony, "we will work together to find a reasonable way of compensation based on the time of people involved," the proposal said.
At its June 17, the Salary and Personnel Committee decided to look into multiple hiring firms to find a new city administrator rather than using Public Administration Associates LLC, the firm the city used to find Vahlsing.
Marsh then conducted an unofficial survey to determine desired characteristics and skills of a new city administrator.
Swiss Colony said after July 4, it will schedule a meeting with the city to develop an audit plan and timetable. Swiss Colony said it will not be involved in any employment termination decisions.
"This is meant to be a form and function exercise for the good of all," the proposal said.
The Times received Swiss Colony's proposal from the city late Friday afternoon. The city's Salary and Personnel Committee plans to discuss and possibly authorize acceptance of the proposal at its meeting at 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at City Hall.
"The object of Swiss Colony Human Resources Department working with the local government entities is a result of the understanding of the local playing field," the proposal states. "The human resource area is very specialized and is sprinkled with many mine fields that can prove both costly and ineffective if not handled properly."
As part of its audit, Swiss Colony proposes to review forms being used, policies in force, or not in force, procedures for handling issues, job responsibilities and supervisory roles.
Former City Administrator Mark Vahlsing handled HR functions before being terminated by the City Council by an 8-2 vote May 13 for failure to perform some of his HR duties.
After conducting the audit, Swiss Colony would report its findings based on research and interviews with "key department heads."
The report would highlight what is working and can be sustained, things that need modification and items that need to be changed immediately to avoid future problems. The report would offer suggested solutions.
Salary and Personnel Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said the city's human resources materials were out of date.
"It's so outdated I don't know how the city was able to function," Coplien said. "With HR systems, the problem is there is so much, it's so overwhelming."
Mayor Ron Marsh declined to speak about Tuesday's meeting until Monday morning.
Swiss Colony President John Baumann said Swiss Colony's HR department is large and sophisticated and can help the city.
"We've probably encountered any and every issue you can," Baumann said. "Anything we can do to help the city or the county, it makes sense to do that."
Swiss Colony has been helping the Green County Humane Society with HR and financial responsibilities since January.
Swiss Colony will cover the initial review, including discovery and suggestion stages. If the city decides that more is needed from Swiss Colony, "we will work together to find a reasonable way of compensation based on the time of people involved," the proposal said.
At its June 17, the Salary and Personnel Committee decided to look into multiple hiring firms to find a new city administrator rather than using Public Administration Associates LLC, the firm the city used to find Vahlsing.
Marsh then conducted an unofficial survey to determine desired characteristics and skills of a new city administrator.
Swiss Colony said after July 4, it will schedule a meeting with the city to develop an audit plan and timetable. Swiss Colony said it will not be involved in any employment termination decisions.
"This is meant to be a form and function exercise for the good of all," the proposal said.