City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  January 20, 2004

Item No.:         15

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve the Police Department’s request to hire a temporary part-time clerk-secretary. This position within the Police Department would entail approximately 1,000 hours and would be funded with existing 2004 salary monies.

Background:  The Clerk/Typist Unit has been staffed with 3 non-sworn members for the past 19 years. However, during that period, the Police Department has increased its sworn staffing by 12 officers. In addition, the total calls for service have more than doubled, increasing from 12,458 in 1985 to 28,840 in 2002. With the increase in the workload, clerical members have a difficult time keeping up with the amount of reports generated by officers. This creates a backlog and a delay in the report process. During times of a critical incident or a major case, the demand on clerical is highly intensified as some incidents can generate numerous reports and supplemental follow-ups. A backlog is also being experienced in the time-sensitive areas such as answering open records requests, UCR reporting, and the filing of accident reports with the DMV. 

In the past, Manager Stencel had been able to assist the Clerk/Typist Unit with some of their workload. However, that is no longer possible as Manager Stencel’s responsibilities have shifted solely to the new Emergency Services Dispatch Center. Further, we don’t anticipate that Manager Stencel will ever resume her former responsibilities within the Clerk/Typist Unit.

Therefore, we respectfully request that the Police Department be allowed to hire a temporary, part-time clerk-secretary, working 1,000 hours, to alleviate the stress and workload on the existing three clerical members.

Fiscal Impact:  The total cost will be approximately $11,000 (1,000 hours @ $11/hr.). The Department anticipates a surplus in its 2004 salary budget due to Dispatcher Tietz’s current military deployment in Iraq. Dispatcher Tietz is not expected to return to her position with the Department until July, 2004. These unused funds would cover all expenses incurred by the temporary, part-time clerk-secretary.

	Respectfully submitted, Thomas P. Bauer Chief of Police
Prepared By: Warren N. Endthoff Administrative Captain	Fiscal Impact By: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk