Plan eliminates one position, promotes two equipment operators/mechanics

BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

The Oneida County Board approved a reorganizational plan Jan. 16 for the county highway department, which is estimated to save more than $25,000 annually and expected to operate the department more efficiently.

Personnel changes in the reorganization include eliminating a vacant full-time assistant patrol superintendent position, promoting two equipment operators or equipment operators/mechanics to working foreperson positions, changing the pay grade of the highway commissioner, state patrol superintendent and shop superintendent and increasing management staff from 37.5 hours to 40 hours per week.

The resolution states the highway department’s reorganization will accomplish the following:

• Reduce the size of the highway crew by one full-time employee.
• Increase efficiency by having a working foreperson on each work crew.
• Maximize revenue and end reimbursement of a foreperson being hourly
• Eliminate the “compression issue” between the shop superintendent and mechanics.
• Establish a better system for on-call for management staff.
• Establish equity for management positions supervising 2,080-hours-per-year staff
• Save the county money

County human resources director Lisa Charbarneau said the two foreperson positions at pay grade level “J1” would be “exempt hourly,” but eligible for overtime at time and a half, so that the time the highway department bills out, such as for a routine maintenance agreement with the state, could be reimbursed.

Charbarneau noted the county previously has not been able to use all its allocation for state maintenance agreements and has had to refund money.