A divided City Council votes to create job for a city spokesperson
A 4 to 3 vote clears the way for City Manager Charles McNeely to hire a communications manager and other positions as part of move to reorganize his office.
Council members Dennis Baxter, Tobin Brinker, Fred Shorett and Rikke Van Johnson voted in favor of the city manager's plan. Council members Esther Estrada, Chas Kelley and Wendy McCammack voted against the move.
The council was unanimous however, in a related vote to set the salary for the currently vacant assistant city manager's position and create a senior administrative analyst position. Whoever is hired to the latter job will be responsible for writing up grant proposals and other "complicated staff work."
Council members cast their votes Monday night.
The job description for the newly-approved communications manager's position establishes that whoever gets that job will be responsible for communicating city policy with the media, business community and others. The staffer will also be responsible for working with employees in other city departments to develop a marketing plan for San Bernardino.
The communications manager's lucrative compensation package and the fact that the city's Personnel Committee had recommended against creating the communications manager's position both figured in Monday's debate.
The future communications manager is slated to earn a pay package worth $8,850 to $10,757 per month. McNeely pointed out that the compensation package for this position, as well as that for the assistant city manager's job and senior administrative analyst's position, will not draw on San Bernardino's stressed general fund.
However, Estrada said she thinks creating the position still sends the wrong message to city employees who have been laid off in recent cost-cutting moves.
"It's a little hard for me to consider this request in light of the fact that we had to lay off people, furlough people ... have City Hall closed on Friday," she said.
Brinker said the city should invest in hiring an employee dedicated to speaking on behalf of the city.
"I know it is a lot of money, but in the long term, the benefits will be there," he said.
The Personnel Committee consists of the very council members who previously voted against the creation of the communication manager's committee. Kelley and McCammack objected to having the issue taken to the full council after their votes, while McNeely said he respected their opinions but thought the full council should have a say.
McNeely also said a citywide spokesperson would be better able to handle PR duties than the heads of city departments, who were hired to for skills specific to their departments rather than communications.
San Bernardino's City Charter establishes that the mayor is officials the city's spokesperson. City Attorney James F. Penman said he didn't think the creation of the comminications manager's position was illegal, but that the proper way to place this duty within the City Manager's Office would be through a voter approved charter amendment.
McNeely said having hiring a city spokesperson work for his office, as opposed to the elected mayor, would depoliticize the job.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Wow!
Brazil lauches nuclear attack...details later, maybe!!!!
I am upset that the new communications manager will be making$106,200 a year when people in the San Bernardino Police Department and San Bernardino Fire department. The Council needs to make this salary the same as a teacher salary $52,000 a year.
I am upset that the new communications manager will be making$106,200 a year when people in the San Bernardino Police Department and San Bernardino Fire department. The Council needs to make this salary the same as a teacher salary $52,000 a year.
Why make it the same as a teacher? Why not the same as an San Bernardino firefighter ($115,000 a year) or a San Bernardino Police officer ($103,000 a year).
The reporter conveniently forgot to report that the council voted unanimously to fund a position in the council office at $70,000+ a year. It was paid for from the budget reserve. None of them complained about spending money on a position for their office or said we can't do it because we need to be careful how it looks after all of the lay-offs.
The above blogs are misleading and incorrect in regards to the amount a police officer makes in a year. A "new" officer makes approximately $55,000 without overtime. Thats cash "in hand". Naturally, as time passes they gradually make more as they meet each pay step or receive a promotion. Money well earned in todays broke down environment. Of course, benefits up the totality of earnings but were talking expendible cash.
OK, thank you Andrew; now there is a story in print and I am confused as to what the mayor has left to do, but to antagonize the conservatives and come up with more touchy feeely ideas. I think I know how we can save $80,000.
I thought he ""WAS THE SPOKES PERSON FOR THE CITY"".
With his salary and the new communications salary, plus the non existant asst city mgr's salary and the ultra high city manager's salary, we ought to start looking pretty good to some one! Ya think???
About the only thing looking good, is to the applicants who are seeking those positions.
Wont affect the general fund??? Where do you think the money starts from any way, before it is squirreled away for management benefits?
I am thinking once again:
"TOO MANY CHEIFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS"
Top heavy and broken . Watch the new "comm" chief advocate an extrodinary marketing program and EDA get on the band wagon and offer up some tease funding for this; the shift to selling the city (house) before we clean up the Kitchen and toilet! More downtown promotions and "pie in the sky" dreams and no fix on the way for uptown. And where is the 6th ward, 3rd ward and 2nd ward on rejuvenation or 7th ward on it's long needed street repairs and blight?
No money for the wards, but downtown gets the "beef" and the wrappers go to the wards for their nutritional benefits.
Com cheif is a P R position, who will pretty up the ugly so it is acceptable and don't you believe there will be transparency in this department.
S N A F U
beauracracy breeds contempt. That , they will get!!!
Yeah pay the comm. officer as much as a ff or police officer. After all the comm. officer will be risking his/her life right? duh... and to match the above reference to the p.d. officer salary. The FF salary is on par to that of p.d.
OK, sorry but I have to ask a question here please.
Does City Manager Charles McNeely have a son or daughter who can read and write? If so, he should talk to the Mayor for some hiring pointers.
the average pay for fire and police staff was accurately reported as over $100,000, when you factor in overtime and bonuses. This is an established fact. It also doesn't factor in medical care, dental, pension, etc.
So the city has enough money to create NEW positions and pay very well for them...does that mean the city has enough money to give back the 10% pay cut to general unit emplys. and the 400.00 a month benie cut the officers took? I would think so....right? I'm just saying...take care of the people you have working for you NOW. Ya got money to hire, then ya got money to give back to those who gave it up!
How about hiring back the workers that got laid off before you start spending $$$ on new positions.