06-26-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No.: 15 Date: June 26, 2017 Item Description: Approval of Golf Course/ Parks Superintendent Position and Recruiting Presenter: Adam T. Edwards Agenda Public Works Director/ Public Works Director/City Engineer Section: City Engineer's Report 1. Purpose. The purpose of this action item is to gain approval to adjust the duties and responsibilities of the Golf Course Superintendent to include responsibility for all of the Orono Parks and to begin the hiring process for the position. 2. Background. The current Golf Course Superintendent is on his fifth of five phased retirement years. Since he began phased retirement the position has been a 0.5 FTE. Since its reinstitution in 2014 the Parks Commission through the Council has raised the level of expected service at our 23 Parks. This has resulted in a significant amount of supervisory time and effort being directed away from other public works functions to support the park system. Therefor as we look to replace the Golf Course Superintendent and meet the increasing demands of our park system, I recommend the creation of a new position that combines the Superintendent and Parks Supervisor roles into one full time position. 3. Position Scope. Parks and Golf Course Supervisor (Grade 10). The position would be a full time position responsible for all of the city's parks to include the golf course as well as duties as the tree and weed inspector. The position would be responsible for the supervision of all of the seasonal golf and parks employees as well as managing all of the golf and parks related contracts. 4. Advantages. The creation of the position would allow for the redistribution of duties within Public Works allowing for increased focus on the city's infrastructure and services. a. It would allow the redistribution of duties among the three supervisor positions: Parks would move to the new position. Facilities would move from the Utilities Supervisor to the Streets Supervisor. The result is that both the Utilities and Streets Supervisors would have increased time to focus on their areas and we would have someone dedicated to parks. b. The Parks and Golf Supervisor would become the supervisor for all of the golf and parks seasonal employees, allowing him/her to more easily shift assets to meet the needs of all of the city's parks. c. The Parks and Golf Supervisor would pick up some of the daily/ routine parks tasks the Public Works Director has to do thereby allowing more time to focus on project management and engineering support to the city. d. Having a full time position to recruit for should allow for a much higher quality pool of applicants. Note- the superintendent positon was full time but then moved to half time when the incumbent went into the phased retirement plan. 5. Cost. The cost to change the position back to a full time position is roughly $35,000 plus benefits per year at the top of the pay scale. 6. Funding. This position will be funded through the Parks and Golf Course Operating Budgets. This cost however would be distributed amongst multiple Public Works budget lines (Sewer, Water, Parks, Streets and Storm) based on the adjustment of duties amongst the supervisors. Prepared By: Reviewed By: Approved By: