City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:           October 7, 2003

Item No.:         6

Recommendation:  That the Common Council adopt Resolution No. 10287-100703, a resolution approving a review and authorization process on hiring and promotions for the City of Oak Creek for October through December 2003 and for calendar year 2004.

Background:  Because of the recent financial difficulties of the State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County, municipalities are facing the prospect of lower shared revenues and having even more costs shifted to the local communities.  Although the City of Oak Creek has been fiscally responsible and does not face the immediate shortfalls that some other communities are faced with, the Mayor and Council recognize that taxpayers want to be confident that their dollars are being spent wisely.

Personnel costs comprise the major portion of the City’s operational expenses.  In order to more closely oversee dollars being spent, the Council considers it prudent to implement a review and authorization process on hiring and promotions for the balance of the year 2003 and for all of 2004.  Any City vacancies, including those in Library and Water and Sewer Utility that occur after October 1, 2003, would be subject to review and authorization by the Council before being filled. 

The review and authorization process would not apply to the designation of employees in “acting” capacities for periods of time or to hiring of part-time summer seasonal and part-time recreation program employees, as long as the number already approved does not increase.  Placements that have already been approved will not be affected:  Building Inspector (1); Police Dispatcher (4); Engineering Technician (1); Part-Time Clerical – Assessor’s Office (1); and Part-Time Clerical – Treasurer’s Office (1).

This does not mean that hiring will not take place, but does mean that any position authorized to be filled shall have passed stringent examinations as to its necessity to maintaining adequate services to Oak Creek citizens.

Fiscal Impact:  None.

Prepared by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk	Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Kufrin City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

File name: streets(T)/shared/word/003/2004saltcontractforstreets