One of the City’s greatest resources is its employees.
This week brought news about two of them.
This week brought news about two of them.
RETIREMENT
Assistant Service Director Al Hess is retiring.
Hess, a Highland Heights native, is a well-known fixture in our community.
Aside from his official duties, residents recognize Hess for his interest in classic cars and his active involvement in the Mayfield City Schools.
Hess, a Highland Heights native, is a well-known fixture in our community.
Aside from his official duties, residents recognize Hess for his interest in classic cars and his active involvement in the Mayfield City Schools.
50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
A table was set up outside the Council Chamber door last Tuesday night.
It held a lovely decorated cake.
The set-up signaled a party in honor of the Jean Buchak, the Clerk of Council.
Turns out Buchak began working for the city on November 18, 1964.
A table was set up outside the Council Chamber door last Tuesday night.
It held a lovely decorated cake.
The set-up signaled a party in honor of the Jean Buchak, the Clerk of Council.
Turns out Buchak began working for the city on November 18, 1964.
That’s 50 years, folks.
Talk about dedication to your work…
Council President Cathy Murphy lauded Buchak:
Council President Cathy Murphy lauded Buchak:
“Everyone who knows Jean knows her to be reliable and a friend to many.
And let’s not forget her candy bowl at the end of her desk….
Thank you for your service, Jean.
It means so much to us.”
CITY’S NEW WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED
For years and years Council members complained about the
city’s outdated and poorly maintained website.
This year Mayor Scott Coleman finally hired a designer to update the website.
The city’s new website was launched last week.
This year Mayor Scott Coleman finally hired a designer to update the website.
The city’s new website was launched last week.
The web address is the same: http://www.highlandhts.com/
The new website isn’t cutting edge by any means---it looks like other municipal
websites I have seen---but its functionality appears to be much improved.
It contains more links and it has the potential to provide much more information to users.
It contains more links and it has the potential to provide much more information to users.
For me, though, the most important change is one behind the scenes.
Finally---and for the first time ever---the website will be maintained “in
house”.
Marvelous Marlene, aka Marlene Kole, the mayor’s administrative assistant, will perform that task as part of her routine duties.
That means the city will no longer have to pay a part-time freelancer, who previously posted things on the city’s website during her spare time.
It also means that the website will finally receive the attention it needs and deserves to stay current and relevant.
So don't get too attached to the pretty fall pictures currently displayed on the website.
No doubt they will be replaced as the seasons change.
As for residents’ reaction, the mayor told Council:
Marvelous Marlene, aka Marlene Kole, the mayor’s administrative assistant, will perform that task as part of her routine duties.
That means the city will no longer have to pay a part-time freelancer, who previously posted things on the city’s website during her spare time.
It also means that the website will finally receive the attention it needs and deserves to stay current and relevant.
So don't get too attached to the pretty fall pictures currently displayed on the website.
No doubt they will be replaced as the seasons change.
As for residents’ reaction, the mayor told Council:
“The feedback has been very positive.
It will take some getting used to, but I’m pretty confident that everything that was there is still there.”
SNOW STORM MAY DELAY
SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM
Last week’s snow storm brought several city programs to a halt.
The service department workers were forced to exchange leaf collection equipment for snow plows, and an outside city contractor was forced to suspend its work replacing city sidewalks.
Engineer Brian Mader told Council that the contractor hoped to get back on track this week, but there was no guarantee that the weather would cooperate.
The sidewalk repair program may have to be suspended until spring.
Mader reported that if that happens, the contract price will be honored and the project will be first on the contractor’s 2015 “to do” list.
SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM
Last week’s snow storm brought several city programs to a halt.
The service department workers were forced to exchange leaf collection equipment for snow plows, and an outside city contractor was forced to suspend its work replacing city sidewalks.
Engineer Brian Mader told Council that the contractor hoped to get back on track this week, but there was no guarantee that the weather would cooperate.
The sidewalk repair program may have to be suspended until spring.
Mader reported that if that happens, the contract price will be honored and the project will be first on the contractor’s 2015 “to do” list.
MAYOR PROPOSES AMENDING CITY PAY ORDINANCE
The city’s pay
ordinance currently provides a fixed salary schedule for the position of Assistant Director of the Highland Heights Service
Department.
The Assistant Director is second-in-command behind Service Director Thom Evans.
At the November 25th Council meeting, Mayor Scott Coleman told Council that he wanted to discuss changing the ordinance to drop the fixed schedule for a “salary range” instead.
The Assistant Director is second-in-command behind Service Director Thom Evans.
At the November 25th Council meeting, Mayor Scott Coleman told Council that he wanted to discuss changing the ordinance to drop the fixed schedule for a “salary range” instead.
It wasn’t clear from his statement, but residents speculate whether the change signals the mayor's intention to continue a trend that started
with Evans.
That trend?
That trend?
Offering sweetheart “retire-rehire” deals to retired employees in lieu of opening up employment opportunities for younger workers.
Such "retire-rehire" deals provide only short-term cost savings as the initial cut-rate salaries offered in such deals climb over time, eventually reaching pre-deal levels.
Importantly, they also prevent the renewal and rejuvenation of the city, through the addition of new hires to the workforce.
Importantly, they also prevent the renewal and rejuvenation of the city, through the addition of new hires to the workforce.
What are the mayor's intentions here?
We should find out soon.
We should find out soon.
The mayor intends to discuss his proposal at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting.
