A request by Town of Huntsville staff to add two new contract positions for a term of at least one year at a cost of about $190,000, plus expenses, in order to support three new committees of council did not make it past the council table.
At Monday’s council meeting, Councillor Bob Stone presented an amendment asking that the two positions be merged into one.
He said while everyone is passionate about making changes they heard on the campaign trail this past election through the committees—which will look at active transportation and public transit, the community service master plan and waterfront strategy, and environment and climate change—he was not comfortable with the cost.
Stone suggested that perhaps the two positions could be merged into one while noting how important it is to have support for the committees.
“I feel it’s very important that we set these committees up for success… but I was quite concerned with the $197,000 that was outlined to pay for these staff members and I did question the need for two particular staff members,” he said. “We absolutely have to have somebody that’s going to take our ideas and get more information, coordinate all the different pieces, study the plans that we want—that each of these committees wants,” he said.
Stone asked how much one position would cost and was given a range of anywhere from $77,000 to $93,500.
Councillor Jason FitzGerald said, “I think sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture and say ‘what do we want to accomplish here,’ and I think what we want to accomplish is great. I think it’s a big deal. So we worry about attracting the best person to do that in each of those categories? I think we do because we’re setting a goal for ourselves and it’s not to save money on someone to come and to work for us and do half the job we want them to do,” he argued.
Councillor Dan Armour noted that the terms of reference for the contract position/s or committees have yet to be established and said it is still uncertain what the committees will come up with. He suggested starting with one contract position and revisiting whether more resources are needed later on, noting that some of the new initiatives the committees come up with may also require funds.
Mayor Nancy Alcock said the District, for example, has such a person who is able to conduct policy analysis, research, coordinate and organize. “It is doable,” said Alcock, who agreed that the position could be revisited to ensure nothing was being missed.
In the end, council hit the brakes on hiring two contract positions at an estimated $190,000 plus for one year in order to support the initiatives coming out of the three new committees. Instead, it opted to hire one person for the job with the caveat that it would revisit the workload in a few months.
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Congratulations to the new council on this measured and forward-looking decision. Best wishes to all in your challenging and vital roles.
“terms of reference for the contract position/s or committees have yet to be established”. Sounds like an important point to deal with first, if the committees and the worker are to set targets and measure success.
Two cents from an ”easy chair” as opposed to a councillor seat. Active transportation and public transit are important to me. I’m glad these are on the table. Good luck with hiring and moving ahead.
Thanks to Mayor and Council for continuing their commitment to Huntsville’s emerging priorities. Looking for funding, staff support for these priorities are crucial to success as well as promoting more active public and business engagement. All Council members will need to be actively engaged together in achieving objectives. Huntsville has strong leadership in Mayor Alcock and positive enthusiastic new energy after recent elections.