HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-14 Joint Meeting Health and Public Safety & Personnel and Finance** JOINT MEETING ** FEBRUARY 5, 2014 5:10 P.M.
• HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY
• PERSONNEL & FINANCE
Committee Members Present: Health & Public Safety
Derek Dieter, Henry Davis, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Tim Scott
Personnel & Finance
Valerie Schey, Derek Dieter, Dr. David Varner (AB), Henry Davis
Other Council Present: Oliver Davis, Karen White (AB), Gavin Ferlic (AB)
Others Present: Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Shubhada Kambli, Kathryn Roos, John
Murphy, Chuck Bulot
Agenda: Update from 2013 budget hearings on proposal to combine
Code Enforcement & Building Department
The joint committee hearing was called to order at 5:16 by Health and Public Safety Chair Derek Dieter.
He stated the purpose of the hearing was to find out if the City was making moves to combine the
Neighborhood Code Enforcement Department and the Building Department.
This initiative proposed by the Mayor Pete Buttigieg during the 2014 budget hearings last years was
criticized and ultimately rejected by the Council. According to the adopted 2014 budget each
department was to remain separate and autonomous. Information to the contrary had recently come to
the Council a combination of the departments would be contrary to Council wishes and the Council
wanted to find out if rumors of a de facto combination were true.
The Mayor responded to the Council saying he was not moving to combine the departments though he
was still convinced it was a good idea and hoped to propose the plan again in the 2015 budget review.
Mayor Pete went on to say he and his department heads were always looking for ways to increase
service levels while lowering taxes.
Derek Dieter questioned the recent dismissal of three employees from Neighborhood Code Enforcement
(NCE) as evidence of the combination proceeding contrary to the Council's wishes.
Oliver Davis also questioned the three dismissals from NCE. He wondered if the City had a progressive
discipline process for its employees. He also asked if the employees let go had been given the
opportunity to train.
The Mayor said personnel changes were made to improve services. Training for other positions was
made available. He added that the City personnel policies were in need of an update.
Derek asked if employees were being shifted to space in the Building Department, a move lending
credence to the de facto combination.
The Mayor responded saying Toy Villa had analyzed space needs for the 311 crew and the decision to
shift that group to the Building Department space was in process.
Shubhada Kambli, the Director of Neighborhood Code Enforcement Department took over for the
Mayor who left for a prior commitment. She outlined her efforts to bring the department into the
information age. In process were efforts to eliminate paper data silos, putting the data collection,
notification, and follow -up on line. Better decision making and efficiency are the stated goals.
Her presentation prompted questions from several Councilmembers and considerable consternation.
Valerie Schey wondered if the Naviline System could be updated. Dr. David Varner had questions about
the asbestos abatement requirements impacting the pace and cost of housing demolitions. Henry Davis
said the Council felt "shut off' from these changes. He and Oliver Davis said personnel changes needed
to be better communicated to Council. Henry in particular said he no longer knew who to call with
questions. Shubhada said she would be happy to take calls. Both Oliver Davis and Dr. Fred Ferlic urged
better lines of communication.
Valerie Schey asked about funding for "overlapping" Neighborhood Code Enforcement and Building
Department functions.
John Murphy, City Controller, responded saying a new fund 600 had been created containing funds from
both departments while assuring the Council departmental funds were segregated.
This seemed unsettling to Councilmembers. Henry Davis felt it added to the claim that the departments
were, in fact, being combined behind the Council's back.
Derek Dieter adjourned the meeting at 6:08.
Re ec ully Submitted,
Derek Dieter, Chairperson of Health & Public Safety
Valerie Schey, Chairperson Personnel & Finance