07/01/1996 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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16 Regular Council Meeting 7/1J96 Page TS Chief Stevens said we are trying to accomplish two things: first, to free an officer's time to be on the street; and to make communications its own section within the department where it has not been before. He prefers the term Supervisor to Director. (Communications Supervisor.) Council President Fixler said in view of what we have just heard, since by hiring this person a patrol officer would have more time to supervise the streets and this would be 30% of what an officer would be hired on at, if the side that approved the previous motion would revisit that--we could hire the communications Director which would give the extra patrol officer more time on the streets and not hire the additional patrol offcer. In order for that to happen, the winning side would have to make a motion to reconsider that motion. He is looking at this as a way that may satisfy everyone. Mr. Busa said he is in favor of hiring both. Mayor Rinker said he is hearing tonight that this is being presented mid-year, yet there have been a number of items where we have almost been pulling teeth to look at -the issues. There is a natural resistance by any legislative body to spend the time it takes to review personnel matters. This is the kind of thing where Council needs to be sensitive more frequently. If the Council President is calling for a reconsideration, he is equitable. Let's get the communications in order and then we can focus on the police officer and maybe by the end of the year we can move on it. Dr. Parker asked Mayor Rinker if he would rather have a Communications Director. Mayor Rinker said when push comes to shove, he would take the other. Dr. Parker said if someone says we need a police officer, it makes sense to break the budget. Discussion was held. Mr. Marquardt asked why this wasn't in the budget if the problems have been around for many years. This is not an emergency thing. Mr. Buckholtz said a Communications Director is restructuring the department like fine-tuning the way the entire operation runs. It is the hub of three departments and in a crisis, it is almost more important than the one man on the street. Council President Fixler said it is less expensive and effectively frees up an officer to be out on patrol. We can address it in 5-6 months if Council wants to reconsider it.