Council discusses electric department promotions, police fleet choices and capital projects; staff cite in‑house fleet maintenance savings
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Summary
Electric and central services staff described reclassifications, a planned lineman promotion, overlap hiring for an administrative assistant and a broader capital-improvement program; Central Services said in‑house fleet maintenance reduced police vehicle repair costs despite shift to larger SUVs.
Council members pressed electric and fleet managers on planned reclassifications, the capital improvement program and police fleet choices. Paul Waddell, electric director, and Mike Hamlin, central services director, told council the proposals aim to protect institutional knowledge and create career ladders while fleet maintenance has been brought in‑house to reduce external repair spending.
Why it matters: Vehicle choices and CIP funding affect long‑term operating and maintenance costs; staffing overlap for long‑tenured administrative employees is intended to preserve institutional knowledge.
Key points - Electric: Paul Waddell and interim customer service staff described promotions and a planned overlap hire to replace a long‑tenured administrative assistant so the department does not lose specialized payroll and billing knowledge when the current employee retires. - Lineman certification: Electric staff said a field service 1/2 reclassification creates a career ladder so staff hired at Level 1 can advance by merit; the department noted it hires at Level 1 and advances employees based on performance and credentials. - Police fleet: Mike Hamlin said the department moved from sedans to larger SUVs (Chevy Tahoes) to accommodate canine units and equipment; he acknowledged Tahoes have “a hefty repair tag” but said bringing maintenance in‑house since 2018 “has significantly reduced what was being spent on vehicle repairs for the police department.” - Capital improvements: Sharon (budget staff) summarized the capital program, noting reductions in some general‑fund projects, a $1 million addition to the street and alley program compared with prior year, deferred stormwater feasibility/design projects and grant dependency for several larger items (North State Street, PFAS improvements).
Ending: Council asked staff to continue refining CIP estimates, check useful-life entries in fleet replacement planning and to evaluate rate‑study implications for electric projects such as advanced metering infrastructure.
