Come May, as park grass stays green, two recreation workers will
lose their jobs.
Come May, as park grass stays green, two recreation workers will lose their jobs.
A restructured recreation department will mean two more layoffs for the city, but grass will stay green, no police officer positions have been eliminated and city officials are still banking on half a million dollars in re-negotiated pay cuts with the labor unions.
Faced with an annual budget deficit of $2.2 million from declining sales and property tax revenues and reduced development-related fees, the Morgan Hill City Council made cuts totaling almost $2 million Jan. 14.
That amount included one big catch: the willingness of the three labor unions the city contracts with to re-negotiate their wages down by a combined $500,000.
Union representatives Scott Silva, Police Officers Association President and Mike Ferraro, AFSCME business agent, could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Morgan Hill City Council put off any decision to reduce the police force by three positions until May, when next fiscal year’s budget deliberations begin.
Police Chief Bruce Cumming said he wasn’t going to try to recruit for the three vacant officer positions because no one would take the job under such uncertain circumstances.
So the money set aside in the current budget for these three positions will just be tucked away until next year, he said.
The put-off decision didn’t sit well with Councilwoman Marby Lee.
“My issue is, if for the next budget cycle, we’re not going to include them, then why don’t we decide that now?” she said.
The council also shirked staff’s recommendation to let park grass die, a cost saving measure adopted in 2005 under similar circumstances. Most notably, staff recommended browning out half of the large dog section of the Morgan Hill Dog Park and a 30-foot strip of Galvan Park. The reduced maintenance costs, from less mowing to less watering, would amount to $70,000.
“Before, we looked at (browning) areas that were of less use. Now we’re looking at (browning areas) that are used, and we don’t have a plan to go back (to green),” Councilman Larry Carr said.
As for the recreation department, the community services and planning manager, recreation manager and recreation coordinator will be squeezed into one senior manager with part-time help, a savings of $198,000 a year. Beginning May 2, recreation coordinators Karen Lengsfield and Phyllis Dieter will lose their jobs unless they can move into another position with the city.
With some creative restructuring, the effects from Morgan Hill citizens’ eyes will be minimal. Most events, from Get Fit to the Youth Triathlon, will remain, while talks with community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce about a combined effort to keep the Health and Wellness Fair and Art a la Carte are underway, Rymer said.
The council approved Recreation and Community Services Director Steve Rymer’s recommendations in a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Marilyn Librers voting against.
“You’ve done a fine job trying to find a solution, but I’m just not comfortable with it,” the former Parks and Recreation Commissioner told Rymer.
Mayor Steve Tate, on the other hand, commended Rymer for the plan, which is in keeping with the council’s adopted sustainable budget strategy.
As a result of the changes, the parks and recreation, youth advisory and senior advisory commissions will meet less frequently, from once a month each to once every month. The youth and senior advisory commissions will also transition from formal committees to program-oriented clubs. That way, less staff time will be needed to prepare for these meetings.
