Committee tables Manchester parking-division staffing reorganization after aldermen raise staffing, union concerns

The Committee on Human Resources and Insurance of the Manchester Board of Mayor & Aldermen voted unanimously to receive and file a request from Parking Manager Faye Morrison to change the parking division’s staffing complement, a measure Aldermen said needs more review because it would defund two vacant worker positions while creating one supervisory post.

The vote came after extended questioning from Alderman Aldwin Sapienza and others about how the proposed reorganization would affect day-to-day operations at the Victory Garage and in downtown parking. Sapienza said the change “in such a small department, we’re getting rid of 2 workers, and we’re creating 1 supervisor position,” and warned that removing frontline workers could leave maintenance and collection work short-handed.

Morrison described the workload she inherited and argued the superintendent is needed to supervise a busy program with special events, garage upkeep and other duties. She told the committee that “right now, we’re at 11. We’re at 11,” referring to current staff, and said two positions were vacant when she arrived. Morrison said the superintendent position was funded by closing those two vacant positions and that she needs additional frontline hires — “another parking control specialist, and I could use another maintenance repair person.” She also reported that the department has posted a full-time maintenance position and has received about 15 applications with three interviews scheduled.

Lisa Drabek, the city’s human resources director, urged a narrower approach on one element of the request. Drabek said the full-time parking control officer (PCO) positions are part of the Police Patrolmen’s Union and recommended pulling the proposed PCO classification changes “for now” until the city meets with the union. She said the downtown maintenance worker 1 classification is nonunion and could move forward, but advised pausing the PCO language to allow a “more fulsome conversation with the union.”

Alderman Sapienza moved to receive and file the communication so staff and HR could meet and return with a revised request; Alderman Birkisch seconded. The committee voted “Aye,” and the motion passed.

Next steps recorded in committee discussion: staff will meet with the union and return with a revised request; a timeline for that meeting was not specified during the session. The committee did not adopt any of the proposed classification changes or the creation of the superintendent at tonight’s meeting.

The committee’s action preserves the status quo while the administration, HR and the union review proposed job descriptions and staffing funding.