Council approves budget amendment to restore full-time administrative deputy clerk position

The Monona City Council on Aug. 5 voted to amend the 2025 operating budget to restore a full‑time administrative deputy clerk position, approving the resolution after suspending the rules to take the item out of order. Council suspended the rules by motion and subsequent voice vote; one alder voted nay on the suspension. After staff presentations, the council approved the budget amendment by roll call. City administrators said the change responds to turnover and a recent staffing decision by the municipal judge to hire a part‑time court clerk separate from the combined position. That decision left City Hall with approximately half of the prior front-counter coverage. City Administrator Neil and Director Kimball described difficulties filling and retaining candidates and said the full‑time position would restore consistent in-person and telephone service and provide administrative backup for accounts payable and payroll. Staff said the one-time 2025 impact to bring the role to full time is roughly $18,500. The administration described how that figure will be covered in 2025 by reallocating existing line items: approximately $8,700 from the general fund (clerk budget/legal), and increases of about $3,300 each for water, sewer and storm funds (offset by reductions in other miscellaneous or repair accounts). Staff said retiree health insurance savings and unspent legal budget were also used to balance the amendment. The change was described as permanent in staffing but with no immediate levy impact. Council discussed the history of the combined position, the effect on front-counter operations, and procedural steps for carrying the full cost into 2026 budgets. Staff said the part‑time court clerk position is not a benefits‑eligible post and that savings in court payroll contributed to the offset in 2025. City staff will advertise the full‑time vacancy once the funding is in place. The motion to approve the resolution passed on a roll call with Alders Rademacher, Wood, DiPula, Kugel and Bernstein recorded as voting “aye.”