First reading: Milton staff seeks to convert project manager to permanent position, defund vacant city engineer role

At the June 8 study session Finance Director Robek presented the first-reading ordinance proposing adjustments to the 2026 budget, principally a staffing change to convert an existing three-year limited-term public works project manager position into a permanent role and to defund the vacant city engineer position.

Robek said the project manager role was added in 2024 as a limited-term position to assist Public Works with capital projects and has proven valuable. The packet exhibits compare wages and benefits for the positions and, Robek said, the change is effectively budget-neutral and may yield modest savings when wages and benefits are considered.

Council Member Mounts asked whether the conversion was reflected in Exhibit A and whether the change would be budget neutral; Robek explained the project manager is already in the 2026 budget and the primary change is defunding the engineer line and preparing to make the project manager permanent in the 2027 budget. Robek directed council to packet page references (page 25 and 29) for the comparative numbers.

Public Works Director Madden described the operational rationale, saying he found value in an in-house project manager who manages project delivery while the city supplements technical specialty work with consultants. Madden introduced the incumbent, Val Buzzenov, who joined on the three-year contract and has broad project experience; Madden said converting the role to permanent will help deliver capital projects.

Robek presented the amendment as a first reading; no vote occurred at the June 8 study session. If council wishes to adopt after the required readings, the ordinance will return for further consideration.