Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dpw Classification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DER and DPW seek reclassification of 36 vacant city laborer posts to equipment operator roles
Summary
The Department of Employee Relations and DPW proposed repurposing 36 vacant city laborer positions to equipment operator 1–3 roles to increase flexibility and meet service needs; committee placed the proposal on file after department explanation.
Andrea Knickerbocker of the Department of Employee Relations presented a City Service Commission report proposing the repurposing of 36 vacant city laborer positions in DPW’s operations division into equipment operator 1–3 classifications to provide the department greater flexibility in assignments and tasking.
DPW operations administration manager Chuck Schumacher explained that the change is intended to give the department more employees qualified to operate a variety of equipment, rather than maintain a larger number of entry‑level laborers who cannot operate specialized machinery. "The intent is to move these positions into positions that are higher trained and can operate more variety of equipment," Schumacher said.
Committee members questioned the fiscal implications and whether the reclassification would reduce headcount or increase labor costs. Schumacher said the move is intended to be budget neutral for the money currently allocated to the vacant city laborer positions and would allow the department to buy an equivalent number of equipment operator positions. The fiscal note attached to the request estimated higher annualized costs for fully staffed classifications; committee members asked the department to clarify the headcount and fiscal assumptions.
After DPW’s explanation, Alderman Scott Speicher moved to place the classification report on file; the committee ordered the item placed on file by unanimous consent. DPW said it would provide further clarification on counts and fiscal impacts as needed.
