Lukes suggests looking at the vacant positions, and a potential hiring freeze.
City Manager Michael O’Brien says he has already been looking at vacant positions at a case-by-case basis, with, as he calls it, increased scrutiny, if not an overall freeze. There are 25 open positions, which will result in a savings of $200,000-$250,000 for the year.
It’s about a balance between services and costs, he says. If all of the currently open positions remained open next year, it would be a savings of $800,000-$1,000,000 next year. That’s $32,000-$40,000 a position.
“There will be definite drops in service if we don’t fill these positions,” he warns.
Mayor Lukes is scolding Rick Rushton (and other councilors) for speaking on her item without having a true purpose(amend, oppose, clarify). Of course, if we were being real sticklers, she should be abdicating the chair when her items are being voted on.
8:01
