The Huber Heights City Council discussed proposed changes to staffing levels and pay ranges that city staff say are intended to speed hiring and bolster understaffed divisions. City staff presented an amended table of organization that would add an assistant to the director of public safety, combine firefighter paramedic and recruit authorizations into a single category not to exceed 45 positions, increase police officer cadet slots from one to two, convert one part-time evidence/fleet clerk to full time, and add an accountant in finance.

City Manager John (City Manager) and administrative staff presented the amendments as measures to improve hiring efficiency and retain recruits. Staff said the new assistant to the director of public safety would handle applicant tracking, background checks and internal investigations so detectives are not diverted from caseloads. The combined firefighter paramedic/recruit authorization was described as a sliding-scale approach so recruits can be converted to full-time positions when vacancies arise; staff said the combined total would not exceed 45 positions.

Police Chief Leitner and Fire Chief Nisley were present to answer questions. Chief Leitner described plans to expand the cadet pipeline after receiving a high number of applicants; staff said sending two cadets to the academy offers a tuition discount. Finance staff said the deputy director of finance position (filled by Beth Dunivans) will be moved to a higher pay grade and an additional accountant position will be added.

Staff also said some hires will be timed to available workspace in current city facilities and that certain hires may be delayed until the city occupies the new governance center. Several council members praised staff for the proposals and asked that the items be placed on the council's Monday meeting agenda; no councilmember objected.

The accompanying wage schedule legislation would apply a 2.75% cost-of-living increase already approved by the council and shift minimums and maximums by 0.75% to accommodate the new positions and the deputy director's pay-grade change. Council agreed to forward both the staffing resolution and the salary-range ordinance to the Monday meeting for formal action.

If approved on Monday the changes would authorize the new positions and updated ranges; no final hires were made at the work session.