by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Despite the quiet times ahead for the Elections Office downtown, Interim Supervisor Bill Scheu is close to securing five new full-time positions there.
Citing a need for consistency and accountability, Scheu told the City Council’s Finance Committee Monday that the clerical positions in mind would be created out of eight temporary posts at the Monroe Street office.
Because those positions are funded through the office’s general budget, no new money will be needed to pay for them this year, Scheu said. However, a “nonmaterial budget increase” would be expected in future years to cover slight salary increases and the cost of medical benefits.
“But I do think it will be in this office’s best interest to convert these jobs into full-time positions,” Scheu said. “The employees we’re looking at are excellent workers and keeping them here reaps the benefits of having
experienced personnel at our disposal here, who would otherwise be let go.”
Though largely supportive of those plans, Finance Committee member Daniel Davis said he was unsure if converting the jobs into full-time positions was even Scheu’s call to make.
Filling in for Supervisor John Stafford since his October retirement, Scheu is expected to exit the office just after a permanent replacement is elected on March 28.
Davis questioned whether the new Supervisor would be better suited to make changes to Elections Office personnel.
“I’m just curious if that permanent supervisor would prefer to make a decision like that,” Davis said. “He’s going to be the one running that office on a much more long term basis.”
Scheu said Jerry Holland and Warren Jones, the candidates vying for the position, were either supportive or open to the suggestion, respectively.
“(Scheu) and I have talked a
little bit about it and, if this is something he feels is best practice,” Holland said, “then I’m fine with it.”
Jones was unavailable for
comment.