by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In a little less than two hours, the City Council’s Rules Committee finalized Mayor John Peyton’s reorganization ordinance, paving the way for acceptance by the full Council tonight. That is also one of the last major hurdles Peyton is facing regarding his $96 million budget. Since much of the budget was based on reorganizing the City’s administrative makeup, getting the OK from the Rules Committee was imperative.
Monday, the committee also reinstated several departments the mayor’s office was looking to cut for fiscal year 2007-08, a year in which the City is looking at a $65 million shortfall. The Consumer Affairs Division, Adult Services, Parks Security and the County Extension Office were all inserted back into the reorganization ordinance.
“This is a very important division,” said committee member Denise Lee.
According to Council Auditor Kirk Sherman, the division houses three employees that make $127,689 combined annually.
Lauren McEwan of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office oversees the Parks Security Division. Through the program, members of JSO monitor 39 Jacksonville parks and many actually live in the parks in exchange for maintaining a visible presence. McEwan said those officers are monitored closely, work at least five hours a week at the parks and submit detailed logs of their activities. There are currently vacancies at two parks.
The County Extension Office houses the Canning Kitchen, a facility the City recently upgraded that allows citizens to can and jar their own fruits and vegetables. According to Peyton’s policy chief Adam Hollingsworth, the Canning Kitchen costs about $67,000 a year to operate. While Hollingsworth said a funding source for the Canning Kitchen has been determined, he expects one will be found.
“The only issue is what role the canning center should or should not serve,” said Hollingsworth. “Obviously, the desire on everybody’s part is to keep it open.”
The Rules Committee also voted to require several appointed officials to appear before the committee for reconfirmation. Last week, the committee suggested requiring all appointed officials whose jobs are part of the reorganization effort to come before the committee. Monday, Hollingsworth submitted a document that broke those appointments into four categories: those jobs with not material changes, those jobs that are being changed from department head to division chief, those that are materially changing and new positions. Hollingsworth said the first two categories should not require reconfirmation while the other two should be based on the changes and the new requirements.
“This is a recommendation the administration made and reviewed by the auditor,” said Hollingsworth. “It was a good faith effort to look at the current duties versus the new duties.”
Rules Chair Jay Jabour said he didn’t see the need to ask so many appointed employees — Hollingsworth suggested 19 positions be reconfirmed — to come before Rules.
“I wasn’t here for all of their confirmations, but I have confidence in the people that served before us,” said Jabour, whose term started in July.
Rules Committee member Ronnie Fussell disagreed with bringing anyone back.
“This is a lot more convoluted now,” he said. “There will be a lot more debate later. I am just trying to keep it simple.”
As part of the reorganization process, 55 positions were either going to be eliminated or not filled for a savings Hollingsworth estimated at $3 million. He said the reinsertion of the four divisions into the City’s organizational chart will put a $180,000 to $190,000 dent into that savings.
According to Margaret Sidman of the Office of General Counsel, the reorganization ordinance is now at 96 pages worth of changes and will be submitted tonight to the full Council as a substitute bill.