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Interim city manager outlines repairs, staffing plans and new state utility-disconnection rule
Summary
Interim City Manager Burcham told council the Boardwalk needs about $55,000 in repairs, the city plans to unfreeze several positions and raise 14 employees to $15/hour, and staff are preparing to implement a new state restriction on residential utility disconnections tied to temperature forecasts.
FRANKLIN, Va. — At the July 22 Franklin City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Burcham briefed the council on near-term operations and personnel priorities.
Burcham told council that Boardwalk repairs were identified at an estimated cost of about $55,000 and said several air-conditioning units for emergency services have failed amid recent heat. He said the city currently has four vacant groundskeeper positions and several other positions classified as "unfrozen" in the budget; unless any council member objected, he intends to unfreeze three additional positions and proceed with interviews.
Burcham said he discovered 14 city employees currently earn less than $15 per hour and, unless there is objection from council, he intends to raise those employees to $15 per hour immediately. "Unless there's objection from the council, I intend to move, to, get those 14 individuals up to that minimum," he said.
He also said the city has hired an acting building official recommended by the Department of Housing and Community Development (Doug Smith) and plans to introduce him at a future meeting. Burcham described a new state disconnection law that took effect July 1 that restricts residential electric, water or wastewater disconnections when the National Weather Service forecasts certain temperature thresholds; reconnection policies must be posted in English and Spanish on the city's website.
Council members expressed general agreement with the staffing steps and thanked staff for pushing various development projects forward.
What’s next: staff will proceed with hiring interviews, implement the pay adjustments subject to administrative steps and publish utility reconnection policy materials as required by state law.
Source: Franklin City Council meeting transcript, July 22, 2024.
