While the Española City Council, at its Sept. 19 work session, debated whether to fill two vacant positions in the Finance Department, interim city manager Joe Duran took a stand for his severely short-handed department heads.
“We’re tired of being insulted,” Duran said.
Duran cited how short-staffed the city clerk’s department has been but the Council, during this year’s budget talks, chose to freeze the vacant deputy city clerk position and re-evaluate filling it during the mid-year budget review in December.
Duran also referenced the Council’s decision to first freeze for six months three vacant positions in the fire and police departments. The Council eventually voted to fill those positions at a later meeting.
“Personnel is down from 199 to 114,” Duran said, adding that there are 13 positions filled on either a temporary or interim status. That equates to a 43 percent drop in the total number of full-time city employees from two years ago.
“We understand the phrase “Doing More with Less,” but how much do we cut personnel before we become ineffective to provide the basics for our citizens or place our personnel in a unsafe position?” Duran asked.
Duran, while standing up for the department heads, told the Council not to belittle them by failing to fill vacant positions and then complaining when it takes longer than expected for the employees to fulfill requests.
“Don’t insult us,” Duran said.
Councilor Eric Radosevich questioned Duran about when specifically the Council insulted department heads and employees.
Duran then clarified his remark.
“Some councilors,” he said. “Not all.”
The Council voted unanimously to fill the vacant procurement officer position in the Finance Department. However, Radosevich’s motion was conditional, in that the job must be properly advertised to give all members of the public a fair shot at getting it.
The Council had first voted 5-2 against advertising to fill the vacant procurement officer and financial analyst positions. Councilors Elaine Herrera and Pedro Valdez were the two ‘yay’ votes; Councilor Cecilia Lujan was absent from the vote.
The Council then voted 4-3 to freeze the two finance positions and re-evaluate filling them during the mid-year budget review. Councilors Herrera, Valdez and Radosevich cast the ‘nay’ votes.
Mayor Alice Lucero reminded the Council that funds for both positions were included in the fiscal year 2013 budget that the Council adopted last month.
Councilor Robert Seeds said inefficiencies in the city’s hiring process still exist, including improper advertising for vacant positions, and that he would not support filling positions until the “cronyism” stops.
Seeds said Duran, without Council approval, hired a contractor at $43.87 per hour to manage the wastewater treatment plant. Seeds did not take issue with how the contracted manager has performed. Seeds’ problem was with the cost of the expense to pay the contractor’s salary.
“We could have found someone at $25 per hour,” Seeds said.
Duran on Monday defended his decision to hire the contractor and claimed the situation at the wastewater treatment plant had become a threat to public health and safety.
“The decision to hire a contractor was urgent, to avoid EPA and NEPDS violations,” Duran said. (Environmental Protection Agency and National Environment Pollution Discharge System)
An inspection of the plant this summer turned up various operational and safety inefficiencies which contributed to the plant’s mismanaged conditions.
“Through a pre-inspection of the wastewater treatment facility in the latter part of June, various major deficiencies were identified due to past negligence that had a negative impact in the facility’s efficiency and productivity,” Duran said.
At that time, the former wastewater treatment facility supervisor took time off through the Family Medical Leave Act and eventually retired, leaving no one on the staff with the required Level IV management certification needed to manage the plant. Duran said Monday the position was first offered to a current city employee who possessed the Level IV certification, but that employee showed no interest in accepting the management position. The city manager then offered the position to Souder Miller Engineering who said they were not ready to take on the workload and liability.
Duran then turned his attention to a local Aerotek employee with the required certification and previous experience working at the Española wastewater treatment plant.
Duran said Monday that he is proud of the impact the new plant manager has made on plant operations and of the decision Duran made to hire him.
“As of today, he, along with the current employees have improved the facility’s operation 180 degrees,” Duran said. “There is a ways to go on its efficiency. As identified in the last Council workshop, the surrounding residential neighborhood testified that they can enjoy backyard barbecues once again without the facility odor. So there is an improvement.”
On Monday, Duran said the contractor from Aerotek has been a solid fix but it’s only temporary, and that the city will soon have to focus on finding a permanent replacement to manage the plant.
“We intend to have Aerotek’s employee, who is local, bring the treatment plant to EPA standards and train the current wastewater treatment facility employees efficient and productive operating skills,” Duran said. “Meanwhile, we will need to consider a more permanent solution in hiring a treatment facility manager.”
Duran itemized how each department has been affected by the Council’s massive job cuts. He said the Española Police Department is currently short five officers. However, the Department is conducting testing and background investigations on applicants. “Certified officers would be preferred, new recruits provide new opportunities. Either way, its all good,” he said.
Duran said the Española Fire Department has also been affected.
“Fire requires a minimum of two in–two out for safety,” he said. “Three fire-fighters resigned. (We are) currently testing and (conducting) background investigations on applicants. This takes time.”
Duran said other departments , including water, wastwater and senior center all have critical staffing needs.
Duran had to act quickly to keep the Senior Center’s doors open.
“I have, without authority, authorized to hire a Head Cook and a Temp Kitchen Aide,” Duran said. “Or we close the doors for food service at the Senior Center. Council is well aware of this matter and I am going forward with hiring.”
In summing up his fiery presentation last week to the Council, Duran apologized for his lack of tact and his aggressive nature.
During Council comments, Seeds questioned Lucero about her plan to hire a permanent city manager.
Lucero said she is not ready at this time to appoint anyone as city manager.
“So why did we have those people come down and interview?” Seeds asked.
Lucero repeated herself that she feels now is not the appropriate time.