City of Milwaukee - File #: 971691

• File #: 971691
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution-Immediate Adoption
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/10/1998
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• Final action: 2/18/1998
• Title: Resolution directing all city departments to submit requests to fill all vacant positions to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
• Sponsors: ALD. PRATT, ALD. KALWITZ
• Indexes: CITY SERVICE COMMISSION, EMPLOYMENT

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/18/1998	0	MAYOR	RETURNED NOT SIGNED; Minutes note:  February 17, 1998 To the Honorable Common Council City Hall, Room 205 Milwaukee, WI Dear Common Council: I am returning unsigned Common Council File 971691, directing all city departments to submit requests to fill all vacant positions. I am not vetoing this legislation, but allowing it to become law without my signature. However, I do feel that there are a number of problems with the resolution as it is presently drafted that will make it difficult for city departments to comply. The first area of ambiguity relates to positions currently exempt from the Finance Committee review. Are requests to fill these positions also to be submitted? Thousands of positions fall into this category, including seasonal and auxiliary positions which are normally not filled for significant parts of the year. I am sure you would agree that filling out unnecessary paperwork for these positions is not an effective use of a manager's time. The resolution states that the Budget Office has been reviewing requests to fill vacancies from various city departments and recommending that only certain positions be exempt from the hiring freeze. That is not the case. Departments have requested that vacancies be filled only in cases where there was an unusual hardship. I have personally reviewed and authorized exceptions to the freeze at the request of department heads. Each request that I have considered has been sent to the Finance & Personnel Committee for its consideration. What the Budget Office has done is track vacant positions. In fact, the Common Council received a list of vacant positions for its review on February 6, 1998. Department heads are responsible for fulfilling their strategic goals and objectives in the way they believe most appropriate. If a department identifies a more efficient way to do business, it may need fewer personnel. In that case, it wouldn't make sense to fill a position now and then lay off the person later. If a department head believes that by managing creatively the department can operate with a vacancy, I applaud and support those efforts. I don't applaud unnecessary paperwork. Requiring departments to request authority for all vacant positions, whether needed at this time or not, reduces a department head's ability to manage and is not in the best interest of the city. Sincerely, JOHN O. NORQUIST Mayor
2/10/1998	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	17:0

NUMB:

971691

VERS:

ORIGINAL

REF:

XXBY:

THE CHAIR

TITL:

Resolution directing all city departments to submit requests to fill all vacant positions to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

ANLS:

- Analysis -

The Mayor declared a hiring freeze effective October 31, 1997. As a result, departments have been discouraged from submitting requests to fill vacant positions, and the Budget and Management Division -DOA, which is responsible for reviewing such requests prior to their being acted upon by the Finance and Personnel Committee, has been selectively recommending that only certain positions be exempted from the hiring freeze.  This resolution directs all city departments to submit requests to fill all vacant positions, including all positions currently vacant, and all positions as they become vacant or are anticipated to become vacant, and to also include a list of positions which the Finance and Personnel Committee had authorized to fill prior to the Mayor's October 31, 1997, directive which have not been filled as a result of the directive, directly to the Finance and Personnel Committee (as well as to the BMD - DOA), so that the committee may closely monitor the growing number of vacancies and their current and projected impact on provision of city services.

BODY:

Whereas, Mayor John Norquist declared a city employment hiring freeze effective October 31, 1997, intended to protect Milwaukee taxpayers from property tax increases should the city be held financially liable for various court decisions and pending lawsuits involving the city's pension system; and

Whereas, The Mayor has indicated that the hiring freeze is intended to generate budgetary savings to avoid the necessity of increasing Milwaukee taxpayers' tax bills or implementing significant city employe layoffs should higher courts continue to decide against the city; and

Whereas, The Mayor has further indicated that he intends to maintain the hiring freeze until such time as the city has resolved its legal exposure, although there is no apparent resolution in sight; and

Whereas, A status report on the hiring freeze dated January 30, 1998, from the Budget and Management Division - Department of Administration (BMD - DOA) indicated that a total of 142 positions have been left unfilled, representing approximately 2% of the city's tax levy supported workforce; and

Whereas, The report also indicated " While the freeze has presented a significant challenge for city managers, to date, the city has been able to maintain vital city services"; and

Whereas, The BMD - DOA has been reviewing requests to fill vacancies from various city departments and recommending to the Finance and Personnel Committee that only certain position requests be exempted from

the freeze and authorized for filling; and

Whereas, A protracted hiring freeze undoubtedly will result in a proliferation of personnel vacancies and a reduction in city services, negatively impacting citizens' quality of life; and

Whereas, Pursuant to s.18-10-6-c-3, Milwaukee City Charter, the Finance and Personnel Committee is responsible for authorizing the filling of vacant positions, and the committee's role with respect to vacant positions is heightened under the duress of a hiring freeze; and

Whereas, Although s.18-10-6-c-3, Milwaukee City Charter, also requires departments to submit requests to fill positions to the BMD - DOA for review and recommendation prior to a hearing and action by the Finance and Personnel Committee, the authority and oversight of the committee is also being thwarted with respect to filling of vacant positions by the

administration's edict that only "critical" requests to fill vacancies be submitted to the BMD - DOA for review under the freeze; and

Whereas, It is in the best interest of the City of Milwaukee for the Finance and Personnel Committee to closely monitor the growing number of vacancies in each department and their current and projected impact on provision of city services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that all city departments are directed to submit requests to fill all vacant positions, including all positions currently vacant, and all positions as they become vacant or are anticipated to become vacant, and to also include a list of those positions which the Finance and Personnel Committee had authorized to fill prior to the Mayor's October 31, 1997, directive which have not been filled as a result of the directive; and, be it

Further Resolved, That copies of all such requests to fill vacant positions, along with any requisite supporting documentation, shall be submitted by departments directly to the Finance and Personnel Committee as well as to the BMD - DOA.

ZDPT:

DFTR:

LRB98051.1

MCW

2/6/98