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Council questions public‑works overtime; asks staff to pursue county garage and scheduling options
Summary
Council flagged elevated overtime in Public Works, asked staff to review generator scheduling, weekend coverage and vehicle‑maintenance options including use of county garage, and requested follow‑up cost comparisons.
Public Works staff told the council that overtime rose last year primarily because the department operated short a position and had to cover critical functions such as generator maintenance and weekend facility coverage. AJ explained much of the overtime covered vacations and a once‑a‑month Saturday generator exercise that requires staff knowledgeable about electrical systems.
Councilors asked whether scheduling adjustments, cross‑training or using the county garage for vehicle maintenance could reduce costs. AJ said he had contacted the county but had not yet received firm budget numbers and agreed to continue pursuing the county‑garage option and to produce a comparison for the council. "The overtime in public works covers, when people are on vacation," he said, noting that some overtime reflected temporary backfilling rather than sustained additional hours. Council requested more detailed overtime line‑item breakdowns for the next meeting and possible scheduling alternatives to reduce premium pay.
