A proposal to reorganize the city’s management structure will likely come before the Albert Lea City Council on Monday for a vote.

Residents are invited to share their thoughts on the proposal at the start of the meeting during the public forum, said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams.

The proposal, first introduced Sept. 25, recommends splitting up the services and responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Department under other departments and eliminating Parks and Recreation Director Jay Hutchison’s position. Adams said park services would not be eliminated, and recreation services could be strengthened through collaboration with other entities in the community.

Other departments, including the library, human resources and finance departments, would report to Assistant City Manager Sack Thongvanh instead of the city manager. The directors of these departments would become managers, and a new assistant public works director would be added under Public Works Director and City Engineer Steven Jahnke to allow added responsibilities for that department.

Adams said he anticipates the city saving about $120,000 a year through future attrition under the proposal after probably about 10 years. The savings do not involve the elimination of any additional employees’ jobs, but will involve a change in pay grade for job positions when attrition occurs. When people such as the library and human resources director retire, their replacements would be hired at a manager pay instead of a director pay.

He said the budget savings would provide sustainability for the reopening of the library from 1 to 6 p.m. on Fridays, noting this change could go into effect as early as the spring of 2015.

Adams said he has been meeting with city employees to explain the proposal.

“I think there’s a little bit of uncertainty, some nervousness, but a lot are appreciative that we’re talking about it,” he said.

He said he has enjoyed meeting with employees and other community members about the proposal. While not all have been supportive of the changes, he said people are grateful to learn more.

“I feel comfortable about the communications I’ve had and the information I’ve given out,” Adams said. “They’ve got the information I think to make a decision. I don’t know which way they’re going to go.”

 

The Parks and Recreation Department

Arguably one of the most contentious parts of the entire reorganization revolves around what would happen to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Adams said though the responsibilities of that department would be placed under other departments, he emphasized that the services would not be diminished.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board would still be in place.

He recognized that the proposal to eliminate Hutchison’s position has many employees nervous about whether there will be any future layoffs, but he said he has reassured employees there are no future job eliminations being discussed in the foreseeable future.

He noted he did not think there was enough work for the Parks and Recreation director to occupy a full-time position and that there has been duplication of many of the services within the community.

Adams said the council on Monday will consider a severance policy to be used in the case of Hutchison’s layoff or in the case that any other layoff arises in the future.

Under the policy, employees being laid off could choose to have either 1 percent of their salary multiplied by the number of years of their service plus 88 percent of the premium for COBRA health insurance for up to 18 months or choose to have 2 percent of their salary multiplied by the number of years of service. The policy does not go further than 20 years of service.

For example, someone earning $80,000 who has worked for the city for 20 years could choose between $16,000 in cash plus up to $33,264 in COBRA coverage or simply $32,000 in cash.

He said Hutchison makes about $88,000.

What do the Park and Recreation Advisory Board members think about the proposal?

Though they have not been asked to issue a formal opinion on the issue, when contacted Friday afternoon the members shared mixed opinions.

Vern Rasmussen Sr., the father of Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr., said while he thinks the city has a great parks system, its recreation could be strengthened.

“I think change is hard for anybody,” Rasmussen said. “As a 72-year-old person, I’m probably the last person who likes to see change, but I think changes is needed for our city to grow.”

He questioned, however, how collaboration on recreation with other entities would work, when he said this hasn’t been successful in the past.

Though he recognizes that the law does not allow the city to ask potential employees several questions including where they live, he said he does not like having an assistant city manager overseeing numerous responsibilities who does not live in the city.

Fourth Ward City Councilor Reid Olson, who serves as the ex-officio member on the board, said he is leaning toward supporting the reorganization, though he said he could still be swayed in the other direction.

“It’s been a very hard decision,” Olson said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people both in and out of the city and I’m just hoping to do what’s best for the long-term success of the city.”

He said the reorganization could bring long-term savings and other benefits.

“I think there’s opportunities that the community will benefit from in several areas and in gained efficiencies,” Olson said.

He noted he is confident that the parks program will not get left behind in the changes.

“We will still have a recreation supervisor. We will still have a parks supervisor,” he said. “As long as you have strong people in those positions, everything should continue to run as it has.”

Member Roger Lonning said he has mixed feelings on the issue and he hopes people don’t let emotionalism overtake intellectualism when making the decision.

Member Brian Hensley said he has not decided if he supports the reorganization, but noted that one of the major reasons he and his wife moved to Albert Lea was the parks and trails.

He said he is concerned that parks will not be a long-term priority under the reorganization though the city manager has assured him this will not be the case.

Member Mark Calderon said he, too, has mixed feelings.

“In my opinion, the city has to do what they feel is right for the city of Albert Lea,” he said. “It’s just too bad it affects Jay as much as it does because I feel he’s done a lot for the city.”

Member Dan Borland said he is not in favor of the changes and thinks city officials should take more time to make their decision.

He said he is worried about the city employees.

“It’s just got everybody off-kilter,” Borland said.