Centerville council weighs new facilities maintenance supervisor position against part‑time, contract options
Loading...
Summary
Council members and staff debated adding a new full‑time facilities/building maintenance supervisor to handle building systems, contracts and deferred maintenance. Some members urged a part‑time or contracted property‑management trial first and asked staff to collect peer city comparisons and RFP options.
Centerville staff and council discussed a proposal at the April 10 budget retreat to add a facilities maintenance supervisor to manage city buildings, contracts and deferred maintenance.
Why it matters: Council members said aging municipal buildings and deferred maintenance put the city at risk of higher future replacement costs; staff argued a dedicated position would increase the standard of care, reduce reliance on outside contractors and prolong the life of assets.
Proposal details and debate: Public Works and parks staff described the role: manage housekeeping, HVAC, elevator and roofing contracts; oversee custodial staff; schedule preventive maintenance; and coordinate repairs across City Hall, parks buildings, public works facilities and the museum. Staff proposed a full‑time position with a proposed FY salary/wages/benefits package (shown to council) roughly in line with market comparables (Nate, finance director, cited a peer-salary check). The job title suggested: building/facilities maintenance supervisor or building engineer.
Council concerns and alternatives: Several council members said they supported the objective but recommended pilot or part‑time options first: a 20‑hour‑per‑week retired tradesperson or a contracted property‑management firm could supply the needed expertise at lower up‑front cost and allow comparison with other models. Council members asked staff to (a) prepare a written comparison of hiring a part‑time retiree, a full‑time FTE, or contracting to property-management firms that provide a bench of trade expertise; and (b) gather peer‑city models and contract RFP language. One council member requested the data needed to defend the position at a truth‑in‑taxation hearing.
What staff will do next: Staff agreed to prepare cost comparisons (full‑time vs part‑time vs contract), to reach out to several commercial property managers and to report back with RFP language and examples of how other jurisdictions handle facilities maintenance. Council directed staff to stage a work session to review options rather than immediately add the full‑time position to the adopted budget.
