Joint consolidation board adopts new organizational chart, signals hiring push

The Du Bois City and Sandy Township Joint Consolidation Board voted to replace Exhibit B of the consolidation agreement with a revised organizational chart, a step the board’s staff said is meant to reduce management burden and prepare the merged government for future hires.

Board leaders and staff framed the change as groundwork for longer-term savings and improved operations once vacant roles are filled. Staff emphasized the chart is a plan—not a guarantee—that sets the structure the new city will use to post and fill positions.

The new chart groups municipal functions into four main departments (police, public works, administration and planning), tightens span of control so managers have roughly five to seven direct reports, and renames several leadership roles (for example, community and economic development director becomes planning director). Staff told the board the draft reduces the overall number of positions from the 2022 chart and removes duplicative roles while preserving a succession-path for future growth.

Board and staff members said the reorganization is intended to reduce burnout among employees by clarifying reporting lines and by creating shared positions—particularly in human resources and finance—that are more economical once consolidation is complete. Staff told the board consolidation savings are likely to arrive over several years because legal, transition and implementation costs continue through 2024–2027.

The board discussion reiterated that some positions shown on the chart do not exist today; they are included so the joint board need not return to the consolidation agreement each time the new city wants to post a position. Staff said multiple positions remain vacant now and that the revised chart assumes the organization will be able to fill them, including three roles noted earlier in the meeting: a human resources administrator, a planning and zoning officer and a public works director / deputy director posting expected in the coming days.

Board members raised procedural questions about hiring authority under current city ordinances. Staff acknowledged that existing city code requires council action for some hires and recommended the governing body consider moving to an optional charter council‑manager model that would give the city manager clearer hiring authority after consolidation. The board voted to adopt the chart as Exhibit B to the consolidation agreement; the staff presentation said individual hiring and any changes to local ordinances would be addressed separately.

Public commenters raised related concerns. One resident asked about the status of an assistant manager / economic development coordinator position previously discussed by the city; staff said recruiting for economic development has been limited by day‑to‑day workload and that filling the administrative and planning positions will free capacity to pursue an economic development program.

The motion to replace Exhibit B with the proposed organizational chart passed on a roll call vote.

Looking ahead, staff said the consolidated entity will use the chart to inform job postings and compensation bands and that compensation studies will be used to place titles in pay strata consistent with the new structure.

Actions recorded at the meeting included approval of the revised chart and authorization to proceed with recruitment for specified positions; the board discussed but did not change existing ordinances governing formal hiring approvals.