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Regular City Council Meeting <br />June 16, 2003 <br />Page 24 <br /> <br />Councilman Bell said Mr. Campbell mentioned cutting personnel and Mr. <br />Malone also mentioned personnel that he had already cut. City Manager <br />Malone advised that the one that he cut was in Mr. Anderson's Water Billing <br />and Collection Department. He said they had planned all along that they would <br />have a retirement to take that spot, but there was an opening in Public Works so, <br />they took the opportunity to move a person to the Water Distribution <br />Department. Mr. Malone said that in the past he was trying to get these rates <br />before the Council on an annual basis, but over the past couple of years they <br />have had concerns about whether they needed to fill these positions until they get <br />this rate presented. He said that he had been keeping these positions open. He <br />said that, in effect, the city has had the savings from these positions not being <br />filled. He said he was willing to go ahead and eliminate these three positions, <br />but they may be placed back in the budget if more mandates or more <br />requirements are placed on our people that require more effort. He said that all <br />of our people are being trained by the department. We have not been able to <br />hire anyone that is already trained. <br /> <br />The City Manager advised that when people are hired they cannot go out and <br />operate the plant. So if we lose people through retirement, illness or they take <br />another job the city is going to be in a bind if we do not have some people <br />already trained. This is a short term, stop gap solution. Mr. Anderson said that <br />in the 17 or 18 years he has been with the city he can count on one hand the <br />number of new employees that already had a certificate. Normally, you have to <br />train them from within. City Manager Malone said that even if they are trained <br />they still have to learn how to operate our plants which are more complicated <br />that plants found in the other cities we have discussed. <br /> <br />Mayor Fendley advised that the Council had moved off of Agenda Item 3A, <br />privatization of water and sewer facilities, in order to receive historical <br />information and if the Council wishes to move back up to Agenda No. 3A and <br />discuss that item or they could leave it be. He asked what the pleasure of the <br />Council was. <br /> <br /> <br />