Frank Lewis
PDT Staff Writer
Portsmouth Mayor David Malone introduced possible future legislation during Monday’s conference session, requesting the re-authorization of the position of Assistant Director of Wastewater to assist in dealing with “many wastewater and stormwater issues,” and allowing the proactive management of the city’s sewers, wastewater treatment, and flood defense.
In 2010 the positions of Public Utilities Director of Wastewater and Assistant Director were combined. Now, Wastewater Director Rick Duncan is asking for the titles to be separated again and an assistant hired to help him with the current task of the Longterm Control Plan, which is occupying much of his time and energy.
“Mr. Duncan needs an administrative assistant to help with all the functions of his job, with everything that is going on right now I think it’s something we need to do, however we also have an issue with respect as to how to pay for the position,” Council President John Haas said. He then asked the other Council members for answers to the question of how to fund the position, which, before being done away with, carried a $38,314 annual salary plus a $2,000 increase upon Class-4 certification.
Haas asked if the position would be filled from within the current ranks of employees of that department. Duncan said he would have to go outside the department to find someone to fill the position, and that would most likely eliminate a current hourly employee, which drew a response from Second Ward Councilman Rich Saddler.
“I can’t see laying somebody off just to hire somebody,” Saddler said. “That doesn’t make very good sense to take somebody that is paying taxes and putting food in their mouths to hire somebody else.”
Malone reminded Saddler that a laid-off employee would be able to bid for another opening in the city.
Duncan said a stormwater plan is in place that would bring in increased revenue of $100,000 to $300,000 a year without taking more money from people who currently pay their fees, which would eventually pay for the additional employee.
“My proposal would be to exempt people who are already paying the property tax. They shouldn’t be billed twice for that for flood defense and stormwater,” Duncan said. “Any property in the city of Portsmouth that is tax exempt, churches, state and county buildings - none of those pay property taxes. Based on some calculations I have done, you can implement a stormwater plan and not be a burden on the residents. I would get churches and other tax exempt organizations to pay their fair share.”
“I would respectfully request that Council not approve this,” Portsmouth City Solicitor Mike Jones said. “I have talked with Mr. Duncan about this. My concern is that you’ve obviously got a situation - the city is in Fiscal Caution - and I think it would be very difficult for us to justify with the State Auditor adding an additional employees which in essence is what we would be adding. I understand there is a need in many departments, and Rick’s department is no different from the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Service Department. All of these departments are having various personnel issues. We’re also having issues with our Police Department, where we’re not up to required legal staffing, which has been recently mandated by the (Scioto County Common Pleas) Court here by Judge (William T.) Marshall who basically ordered us to make it up to our required staffing.”
Jones said he thinks Duncan’s plan is a good idea, but referred to it as - “putting the cart before the horse.”
Sixth Ward Councilman Steve Sturgill said it goes back to recent discussions about not being able to afford the current city government.
In the end, Council asked Duncan to come back in the future with more information.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com
What even happened to Nickels, fired, laid off, the one being replaced??
Nickles Named Wastewater Director
http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/7421885/article-Nickles-Named-Wastewater-Director?instance=home_news_lead
The deficits, the unqualified personnel for the straw man project "Storm water Plan" in place, and they do not mention the 20 plan under orders of the U. S. EPA, Such a way like it's only arithmetic. It's municipal planning, civil engineering and financing and all you got in some laymen fuss fightin' on our tax dollars, talking like they know what they are talking about just cause they where elected to an office.
So Let's go.
1. multiply millions in Deficits for 3 to 5 years now? And they are all at the tough wanting to suckle on the teats of our tax dollars and they have not control. See the 2010 Audit and Management letter and you will see they have no control on the revenue nor the expenditures.
2. That "plan in place" is a financial plan, and the 20 year recovery plan, not mentioned here, are to be handled by the Auditor, Mayor, and Solicitor not by a Treatment Plant supervisor. And by a registered civil engineer for the 20 year plan, not the registered chemical engineer that Duncan is?
3. Reauthorize a position, and lay off a person to do that. Did we not need the person being laid off even if s/he can "re-bid" for another positions, simplistically addressed. There's a reason that Duncan was fired, and he was allowed to win a law suit and probably get some free money, our taxes.
4. Look at all the others rushing up to the trough to get some of that tax money we don't have?
5. Poll the council members on how to fund the positions. Politically ok, but professionally laughable.
6. Go outside the department to fill the positions, what happened to that man that took Duncan's place when he was fired and was working on his Operator 4 license? Was he fired in retaliation? Hatfield's and McCoy's.
7. Now have we heard about that "storm water plan that will generate a quarter of a million dollars annually? Bet we haven't cause Mayor Murray put it in place and the "payers" will not like that including those exempt from city taxation, like the ODOT, School District, et al. Then Duncan goes into all that high finance that he understands nothing about, state laws, and the reasons why they can put that plan in place. Also, the people with the some $39 million and counting in abatement's, and will have to pay the storm water taxation, fees. Herman will not like that. Based on calculation's Duncal has done, was it on an eaterie napkin?
8. And you got a judge ordering the budget, never heard about that before? Talk about an Activist Judge, hah. The Courts have not balanced their books and reconciled their books with their bank for years, see the 2010 State Audit and accompanying Management letter and the audits in the years before that, maybe the 1999 Audit or around that time period. Are they still doing the security measures that the judges ordered. Who's in charge of this city and it spending, everybody?
Democracy by committee.
Duncan is to come back later with more information, hah. Keystone Kops................