New Position Created In City Government

Journal- July 1-Front page- A new position of " Economic Development Program Manager" is going to be created to the tune of $54,000/year including benefits.Does the city budget allow for this position? Where did the money come from? If you can find money for this, why can't you find money for the streets? I thought we were hurting for money??? Wonder what this position will do that Bill Murphy can't do? Will this position require an administrative assistant also? I thought that Gilleland was going to take a look at city government and streamline it. This, to me, usually means reducing the deadwood and redundant jobs that can be split up and absorbed by other workers.Why, if the city says they have no extra monies, are they creating new positions? Murphy's activities, other than traveling to Las Vegas, working on the new coke plant and obtaining a few low paying jobs for the city, doesn't appear to be that overwhelming, that he has to have additional help. Is he really that busy to warrant another position like this? I guess this means that we can expect an "assistant program manager" and a "team leader" of program management in the near future.Nothing like developing top heavy city positions, is there Ms. Gilleland? The economic development department is looking more like the public works department everyday with it's 3 managers to 5 workers ratio. Another city blunder to add to the many.

Correction- Journal article- new position of Econ. Devel. Program Manager will pay $83,000 with benefits, not the $54,000 that was reported in the Journal on July 1. Ms. Gilleland says that the position is "required to help in economic development". OK, then what's Bill Murphy doing as Director of Econ Devel.??? Is he so busy that he needs help? NONSENSE!!!!Not with the part time activity that he's shown us. No, Ms. Gilleland- LESS hierarchy, not more! DOWNSIZE these high paying positions, don't create more of them! MERCY!!! What is the matter with these people?

Thats $54,000.00 plus $27,000.00 in benefits from what I saw last night.

That's fine Jonathan, but when was the last time the economic development department in this city brought in enough businessess to generate 100K/ year in additional revenue? What companies came into town that employed enough people to enable the city to collect that amount of tax revenue? I can only recall a few instances when it was announced that there would be a few jobs created at an existing company or two. Quaker Chemical comes to mind with the addition of 30 more jobs at $12 to $15 per hour for salary. I believe. That's about it. Is that enough revenue generation to make a difference? Don't know. Just asking.In the meantime, the new job is going to cost the city $83,000/year. If the city gains $100,000/year in revenue, the city nets $17,000/year. If so, I wouldn't call that awe inspiring. Are we sure that Murphy is that busy on a day to day basis? What has he produced so far for the city in job opportunities and how much revenue have those jobs created for the city? After we find out the answer, we'll know if this new position is needed. Just because Gilleland says its needed, doesn't make it so. The public should be shown why its needed before they act on it. This doesn't look good when city hall claims they have no money to operate, then, creates another high paying layer of management to shuffle papers.

Well Pacnational and Paychex are a start. Who knows what medical companies will be attracted to the hospital campus. Job 1 is to market the area. Can't do that without people beating the street, ringing the phones and making connections.

Otaxo - now that's funny.

Guess Jonathan is in the wrong state.