Minutes 04/19/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 19, 1994 PERSONNEL During this fiscal year, Workforce Management has continued with my commitment for a smaller work force. Vacant positions have been reviewed, departments restructured, and positions eliminated. The Employee Resources Program has deployed 69 employees to other City positions for better utilization. Since I have been City Manager, 130 positions have been eliminated to date. As I have indicated, I will be unable to recommend a general wage increase this y~ar. I am, however, pleased to report that employee medical insurance costs (for most employees) will be held to current levels, contrary to a previously anticipated premium increase. Due to the good efforts and hard work of an all employee Medical Insurance Task Force, we will be providing our employees with a new program with many benefits at the same cost. I would like to publicly thank our Employee Benefits Manager and all of the committee members who worked many months to develop and package this new program for our employees. I am recommending an in-grade step increase for qualifying employees. As a part of my continuing effort to reduce our costs, however, this budget recommends a reduction in the in-grade ste~ increment from 5% to 2 1/2% which will make our plan comparable to the pay and classification plans offered by our neighboring jurisdictions. I am sure our employees will understand this change which will allow for the continuation of the 1n-grade step feature. Our compensation and benefits package continues to be competitive with those of our sister cities. As indicated, funding has been included to continue our Comprehensive Pay and Classification Study. As you know, work has already begun and the first phase will be completed by June 30, 1994. Later phases will include the completion of the organizational efficiency assessments for positions in Grade 19 and below, a salary survey, and implementation of a market based salary system. I remain committed to my goal of having a smaller, more efficient, and better paid employee complement. PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE Crime statistics continue to alarm citizens in the region, State and nation. More police officers is but one element of the complete social resource equation needed to properly address this problem. We need more police officers, probation officers, prisons, drug awareness programs, Youth Against Drugs Programs, tougher sentencing from tougher judges and a rekindling of a neighborhood spirit which will not tolerate illegal behavior and violence. Ail of our citizens must feel safe in Portsmouth, Virginia. This proposed budget recommends increasing the number of sworn police officers providing street coverage by two positions at a cost of $50,000. Additionally, to provide adequate support for our police officers, I am also recommending the addition of three police technicians. This action will also, in turn, enable three sworn officers to stay on patrol of our City streets. The full impact of your approval of this particular recommendation will be that five additional police officers will be on the streets to provide for the public safety. While I am far away philosophically from those who advocate "more cops at any cost," I do believe that it is in the public's best interest to gradually, and within the limits of our financial capability, increase the number of sworn police officers on our streets.