City staff ask council to add 'building division manager' role to cover deputy director duties

City staff asked the Lynnwood City Council to authorize a new building division manager position in the Development and Business Services (DBS) department, saying the role would assume essential duties from the recently vacated deputy director post.

Annie Vandencois, the city’s director of human resources, and DBS Director Walters told the council the proposed position aligns the critical responsibilities of the former deputy director to current departmental needs and sits one pay grade lower. Director Walters said the change would preserve the deputy director job title on the city salary schedule so it can be filled in the future if needed. He added that the restructuring is expected to produce net savings to DBS “of approximately an average of $20,000.”

Council members asked for clarification about interim coverage and timing. Director Walters said Robert Mathias, the former deputy director and lead building official, retired May 2; in the short term, duties have been redistributed among existing staff, with a senior building-services manager recently completing building official certification and the business manager taking on managerial tasks. Walters said recruitment would begin after council adopts the proposal, with a target hire in August so the department can manage payout and budget timing.

Council members also asked whether the deputy director position had been eliminated; Walters and Vandencois said the position remains on the salary schedule but the city is creating a manager role now because current operational needs do not require a deputy director. The council agreed to forward the item to the consent agenda at the next regular business meeting for formal approval.

The request will appear on the next consent agenda for final action.