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Commission advances grant‑writer and construction‑inspector job descriptions, hears vacancy and recruitment updates
Summary
Middletown’s General Counsel Commission moved job descriptions for a city grant writer and a construction inspector forward March 13, agreed salary ranges and credential language, and spent extensive time on a vacancy report and community recruitment efforts to address public‑works staffing gaps.
The General Counsel Commission advanced two personnel items March 13 — a grant‑writer job description and a revised construction‑inspector description with clarified certification language — and spent the remainder of its meeting reviewing a color‑coded vacancy report and recent recruitment outreach.
On the grant writer: Director of Human Resources Justin Richardson described the new permanent grant‑writer role as central to pursuing outside funding as ARPA and other streams expire. Richardson gave a salary range the commission discussed as roughly $64,900 to $96,200, with the budgeted position currently at about $71,000; minimal qualifications listed include a bachelor’s degree. Commissioners agreed the job will be included in the Baker Tilly compensation study so pay can be adjusted once market data is available. The commission approved forwarding the finalized job description to the full council by voice vote.
Construction inspector changes: Commissioners reviewed an updated construction inspector job description, corrected an erroneous numeric amount (should read 8,000 rather than 3,000), and debated credential requirements to broaden the candidate pool. They agreed to add specific language calling for NYSED Level 2 ‘heavy construction’ certification; the amendment and underlying job description were approved by voice vote.
Vacancies and recruitment: Director Richardson stepped through the vacancy report and addressed multiple department needs. Commissioners and staff discussed the staffing domino effect — promotions creating downstream vacancies — and highlighted several priorities: assistant chief (promotion created a vacancy), parks maintainer, master mechanic (requiring extensive experience or degree), heavy equipment operator (Sergio Constantino has been selected), and truck driver positions (one filled, one in conditional offer stage). The commission discussed union coordination: phase 2 remains with the union reviewing more than 100 job descriptions; Baker Tilly will finalize pay scales after job descriptions are completed and vetted. Commissioners urged action to address public‑works staffing shortfalls that, they said, are already affecting operations.
Outreach: Maria Scarlet, the city’s new recruitment and outreach specialist, described attending job fairs and community events (workforce alliance job fair, New Haven Expo, Wesleyan community fair) to build targeted networks and listservs to reach potential candidates; commissioners asked for measurable links between outreach events and successful hires.
What’s next: The grant‑writer job description will go to the full council for approval and both job descriptions will be part of Baker Tilly’s compensation analysis once union and job‑description phases are complete; staff will continue recruitment outreach and return with follow‑up reporting.
