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Staff needs to watch budget
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 |
LARGO – There was enough money in the project’s budget for the city to replace mailboxes for a dozen residents. It only cost $600, but may be the “tip of the iceberg” of free spending by the city staff, according to Vice Mayor Andy Guyette.
Another issue raised at the City Commission’s Jan. 8 meeting was a long-time year-end reward for employees in two city departments, but it should be allowed through a written policy approved by elected officials suggested Commissioner Mary Gray Black.
Commissioner Gigi Arntzen raised questions about the new mailboxes that appeared on Eighth Avenue S.E. last month. She asked if the city had bought the mailboxes as part of the sidewalks renovation and landscaping it did along the county highway.
Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert responded to her question in writing. He explained that there was a problem with the residents’ mailboxes, all located on their own property. To reach the mailboxes from their vehicles for mail service, post office employees were driving up over the curb.
Schubert said that, when there was no response from the mail service, city employees decided the solution would be to put new mailboxes next to the curb in the county right-of-way.
The administrator said 14 new mailboxes were purchased by the city and installed by parks department employees.
Guyette said he felt badly raising an issue over such a small expenditure, but pointed it out that the mailboxes were, in effect, given to the affected residents by all Largo taxpayers. He said he worried it was the sign of city employees spending money “just because it is available.”
Former commission candidate Curtis Holmes questioned bonuses given to public works and parks, recreation and the arts department employees during holiday events. He said he was surprised union officials haven’t complained about the award of bonuses every year to a handful of the city’s 1,000 employees.
Holmes said the rewards were given to 57 employees and ranged in value from $75 to $1,000, totaling more than $17,000.
City Manager Norton “Mac” Craig has explained in e-mails to reporters that the rewards have been given in those departments for many years, prior to his arrival on the city payroll in 2000.
Several commissioners spoke out on the subject, saying they had no problem with rewarding employees for work “above and beyond” what is required of them.
Black agreed, but said she wanted to be certain the bonuses are approved by the commission, both in policy and in the annual budget. She asked City Attorney Alan Zimmet to investigate the bonus policy and advise the commission of the policy covering the bonuses.
“I think it is good and proper that we do something for those employees who go far and beyond what is expected of them,” Black said. “But I would be more comfortable if the attorney can tell us if there is a policy that covers this. If there isn’t, he should draft such a policy.”
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Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008
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