Minutes 06/03/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1999 the worst in the way of tax increases. Mr. John Poe, Fleet Manager, then offered facts to support the need for the new position. He stated that the current average wait for parts was forty-five minutes, usually keeping mechanics idle during such periods since the physical limits of the garage facility prevent multi-tasking of work projects. He also noted that administrative tasks such as those proposed to be done by the new position now frequently keep the shop supervisor off the floor and thus unable to monitor and facilitate ongoing work. Mr. Poe then stated that he had no intention of coming back to Council to ask for additional personnel in the near future, but also noted that he had no control over the numbers and types of equipment the City purchased, and this was the driving factor behind all workload. He also noted the level of work load was such that he was not able to provide adequate training for his staff at this time. Council Member Roop stated that one additional employee would not get the results needed, and encouraged a study of the total situation and an examination of what costs the School System should be paying. Vice-Mayor Teague stated that the garage staff had taken on a steady increase of work and vehicles over the past several years, and that Council had been told for the past three fiscal years about the serious need for a new fleet maintenance facility. Mr. Towamicki pointed out that the shop had taken on school buses due to safety concerns, had accomplished overall fuel savings through volume purchases, and had achieved efficiency in parts purchases. Council Member Haskell stated that the position requested was really needed but that council did not want to add new positions, and that efforts should be made to check personnel requirements in other departmental areas in the coming year for savings that might be used to answer this need. Mayor Crabtree stated that no one wanted to add positions, but the issues of cost effectiveness and safety had to be considered as well. Council Member Dallas stated that Mr. Poe may really need the additional position, and he could live with it, but if fiscal pressures mounted and tax increases were called for in the future some jobs might have to be cut, and this would be among the first to go. He also stated that he did not like comparisons to the City of Danville that had been used, saying that perhaps Martinsville was setting a standard for others to follow in staffing. Council Member Haskell stated that she did not subscribe to the philosophy of "last hired, first fired", and said that the entire organization should be examined and consideration be given to what it would take to do