2003_1215_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Special City Council Minutes — 12/[4/03 DRAFT Minutes - Page 11 of subjects increased; coordinating with other departments for OSHA and AWARE training; cost - neutrality for the Fire Department for the initial position; and less reliance on contracted services. Mayor Kysylyczyn expressed interest in seeing more realistic cost - savings projections by department for coordinated training by the proposed position and how the respective departments could reduce the deficit or tax levy. Assistant Fire Chief O'Neil noted that the Fire Department anticipated monopolizing the position in the initial year, as the program was initiated and in making a determination of what cost - savings could be realized and utilized by other departments, but that until the position were hired, it would be difficult to ascertain qualifications and certifications of the person hired and implementation of additional training programs. Mr. O'Neill advised Mayor Kysylyczyn that the Department didn't want to overextend the position's responsibilities and make it inefficient at its inception, further noting that if the position were hired in 2004, by 2005, the Department would have a better idea of what could be accomplished. Mayor Kysylyczyn noted that there had been no job description presented for approval, so no scope of training was available. City Manager Beets noted that the position had been discussed among Department Heads and they were 90% confident of savings to other departments; however, until the credibility of the position and a track record were detennined, it would be difficult to provide line item cost savings. City Manager Beets advised that staff could provide a concept by the regular December 8, 2003 Council meeting to fardier define the position, determine the budget, and develop a job description at that point and try to target other departments and savings to be realized in on -staff training versus contracted training. City Manager Beets anticipated potential training savings in the Police, Public Works, Parks and Recreation Departments,