01-25-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 4, 2021 2:30 p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 10 4. DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE FOR BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT – Continued Walsh answered in the affirmative. He said in his meeting with himself and Matt [Johnson] the bids came back on a percentage of fee basis which is unacceptable – they have already gone back to get an hourly basis. In the end, they decided there are three different realms of how this could work. Since the City is spending $210,000 a year already, they could hire a Chief Inspector and a Building Inspector all in-house and maybe cover it all. They could perhaps get only a Chief Inspector and outsource other inspections like they do now at an hourly rate, or they may not find a Chief Inspector and find only a Building Inspector and they can keep as much in house as possible and outsource the rest. He noted they do not know who will apply and are keeping their options open. He noted they asked Barnhart to go back to MNSpect and get an hourly rate because they were the only people that had any wherewithal to even handle this kind of operation. Walsh told them he does not know what Orono will be hiring internally because either way, if they are spending $210,000 and they can control as much as possible, they will look at those options. Printup said they have potential of significant savings for the taxpayers. Walsh said no, they are spending $210,000 and will spend that no matter what. He noted they will not save any money, but rather will have direct control of who they have on Staff, versus outsourcing. It could be a lot, a little, or all of it. They just don’t know yet and are keeping all options open. Walsh said they have always had a Chief Inspector and outsourced the rest which was $130,000 but if the City can bring two people in and they are fabulous, the City can do that much less outsourcing and control it. Crosby said they have to see what is available in the marketplace. Johnson clarified they are not approving these positions but rather finding out what options they have to put the City in the best position. Printup said that is a good exercise. Walsh stated part of the exercise is to make sure they have a third party vendor ready to go on an hourly basis that is acceptable to the City Council. Then it is just a matter of how much of the work they receive. He said unless there are any other questions on the job descriptions, he would like to get those out, see what comes in and how they can fill those positions. Johnson moved, Printup seconded, to approve and advertise the two inspection positions as presented. Ayes: 5, Nays 0.