Hamp seeks to fill city spots

Waynesboro City Manager Mike Hamp proposed to the City Council on Monday that he be allowed to fill six of the 11 vacant classified, full time positions, citing needs in various departments.

Hamp, in outlining that the city has saved $48,214 between the general, fleet, water and garbage funds by keeping the positions unfilled, said he is recommending that the city hire a refuse truck driver, a maintenance supervisor, a utility worker, equipment technician, assistant library director and a recreation program coordinator.

Due to a hiring freeze in effect for city employees, Hamp must seek the council’s approval before filling unauthorized vacancies.

“With respect to public works positions, I’m informing council of the desire to fill several vacancies,” Hamp said. “That recommendation, or desire, is motivated, in part by the approaching winter season and the need to prepare staff for possible snow removal work in anticipation of inclement weather.”

The vacant recreation program coordinator in the Parks and Recreation Department, is, in particular, hampering its work, he said, due to duty changes there over the last two years.

Parks and Recreation Director Dave VanCovern, Hamp said, assumed oversight and supervision of the city’s custodial duties in 2007 and, a year later, assumed the oversight and supervision duties of the city’s cemetery. The department also oversees the general inventory for the city.

“While these additional functions do not impact, directly, the positions in the Recreation Division, they do impact the availability of other staff positions to lend administrative support and/or oversight to the Recreation Division,” Hamp wrote in a memo to the council.

Also, with some shifting of responsibilities in the department, it left the coordinator position vacant. Susan Roberts, superintendent of recreation, oversees childcare programs in addition to her regular duties. The Recreation Division of the department has been largely unchanged for more than 25 years, he said.

Also, there are seven authorized, but not eliminated positions that were not funded in the fiscal year 2010 budget.

Hamp said he is awaiting information from the Virginia Municipal League on what the impact of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s $1.3 billion in budget cuts will have on city operations.

“Our staff remains reasonably confident that we can respond successfully to the governor’s reductions for several reasons,” Hamp said.

He said that is due to the restructuring in the city budget and finance offices, accrued vacancy savings and by exercising “judicious preparations for the current economic environment that we have.”

Hamp, while acknowledging the economy in reviewing and maintaining staffing levels appropriately, said the coordinator position is “essential” to provide well-managed programs for youth.

Councilwoman Lorie Smith said she would review the proposal in the next week with an open mind, do some research and “try to support the city manager in his recommendations.”

“I know how taxed we are in terms of being short-staffed with all of the projects that we do have ongoing,” Smith said. “And I think it’s beginning to start to affect how timely we’re moving on with these projects or the lack thereof.”

In other council news, by a 4-0 vote, the council approved the rezoning of the approximately 41-acre South River Complex to a planned unit development with proffers for The Mill at South River project.

“I think that’s a huge deal for our city,” Smith said.

Also, former councilman Jack Higgs, 83, addressed the council Monday.