11/13/2007 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hearing on Appeal, to Commission, of Decision to Lay Off Classified H Position at the North Olmsted Waste Water Treatment Plant Due to Lack of Work Mr. Ubaldi called to order the hearing on the appeal to the Commission of the decision to lay off Secretary II at the North Olmsted Waste Water Treatment Plant due to lack of work. Recognized present are the respective parties, the appellant, appointing authority, the North Olmsted Department of Public Service, and the applicant who is Sandie Agresta, Secretary II, the employee. Mr. Limpert, Director of Public Service, was sworn in and presented his case. The Commission received two (2) documents from the Director of Public Service; one is dated October 9, 2007 laying out the rationale of why the lay off is occurring. With modern technology, there are fewer secretaries at waste water treatment plants. A rate and operational study was completed through ATS Engineering Inc., a consulting firm. ATS Engineering indicated that the work load being done by the secretary was not necessarily work that needed a secretary. The Engineering Department was short staffed this past summer and the secretary at the Waste Water Treatment Plant filled in. With new technologies today, employees use their own emails, creating their own letters, faxing, filing can be pulled out of the computer, and requisitions are computerized. Sharon Schlemmer, the current Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent and Mr. Limpert have had discussions regarding the need for a secretary and felt she can manage the plant without a secretary and has been quite successful. Mr. Ubaldi inquired about the brief submitted by Mr. Limpert indicating that there will be a series of positions cut following the retirement of those retiring and questioned how many positions will be cut. Mr. Limpert indicated that there will be four (4) positions being cut. Robert Nichols, the previous Superintendent, retired and was recommended by ATS Engineering that the Pre -Treatment Coordinator was no longer necessary. Those functions could be done by others in the plant. The Pre -Treatment Coordinator, who has often served as manager when both the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent were both out, was promoted to the Acting Plant Superintendent and as she completes her Class IV license is the Director of Public Service's intent to be the next Superintendent. Another position that was recommended to cut is the Operations Foreman position and to create an Assistant Superintendent of Plant Operations position. The Assistant Superintendent of the plant will have 30 years of service next year and will retire. The Plant Foreman is well familiar with the plant and operations and is qualified for the Assistant Superintendent position. It does not make sense to lay off the Plant Foreman at this time because he is totally groomed for the position. Another position that was recommended from ATS Engineering is the Maintenance Foreman. As the city modernizes the Treatment Plant, the survey indicated that there will be less need for this position. The Assistant Superintendent of Plant Operations should direct the maintenance workforce on what should be done. The employee that holds the Maintenance Foreman position is planning on retiring this year. The recommendation from ATS Engineering is not to fill certain positions when there are retirements occurring and the need is not there to have a secretary. The secretary has been laid off but has the right to "bump" another position of Secretary II or Receptionist. The secretary has chosen to "bump" another Secretary II in the Building Department. This is a comprehensive reduction in force at the Waste Water Treatment Plant of which a lay off of Secretary II is a part of. The survey is a confirmation of a decision that has been already made. The Commission does have excerpts of the Rate and Operational Study. Ms. Agresta does not have any questions at this time. Sharon Schlemmer, Superintendent of the North Olmsted Waste Water Treatment Plant as of September, approached the podium and was sworn in. Ms. Schlemmer took the position as a part-time office worker/secretary twenty (20) years ago when there was no office. The secretary for the Waste Water Treatment Plant in the last five (5) to ten (10) years no longer exists with the current technology in place and for this reason there has been lack of work. The secretary's job description stated in the Clerical/Technology contract indicates that they have bookkeeping, purchasing, record keeping systems employed by their department. The Waste Water Treatment Plant is very unique and it does not have many of those skills needed. The