The reorganization of two City of Hollister departments through
managerial changes is expected to save the cash-strapped city more
than $150,000 this year.
The reorganization of two City of Hollister departments through managerial changes is expected to save the cash-strapped city more than $150,000 this year.
Changes in the Development Services Department will save more than $115,000 annually with the elimination of one managerial position, while a resignation and promotion in the Information Systems Division will save about $43,000 through the end of the fiscal year.
In the reshuffling, Planning Manager Mary Paxton will become head of the Redevelopment Agency and Assistant Planner Abraham Prado will become associate planner, with the managerial position being axed.
Prado, who has four years of experience and is one class away from completing his master’s degree, “is capable of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department” in his new role as associate planner, City Manager Clint Quilter said in a report to the City Council.
Quilter also expressed confidence in Paxton, a veteran of the local county and city planning departments who recently organized an update of the city’s zoning ordinance.
Prado’s reclassification will cost the city roughly $7,600 annually for a pay increase and another $12,320 for contract planner and intern hours, but the city will save more than $135,000 with the elimination of the planning manager’s job, resulting in a net general fund savings of $115,584.
The RDA manager’s job has been vacant since January when former director Bill Chow was fired after a six-month extension of his probationary period. The city identified and interviewed final candidates for the job, which oversees a multi-million-dollar agency designed to eliminate blight and spur economic development using tax increment funds – and increase in tax revenues created by improvements made in a specific area.
The RDA is coordinating the $5 million remodel of the downtown fire station, the planned West Gateway project, and various low-income and first-time housing projects.
In the Development Services Department, which handles computer and information technology issues in the city, the resignation of the part-time manager prompted the city to consider the reorganization.
The information systems analyst will be promoted to manager and that position will be converted to full time, with the analyst’s job being left vacant through the end of June. The moves will save more than $43,000 this fiscal year, according to Quilter.
“We’ll analyze that for the rest of the year because we can feel one person can handle it over six months,” he said. “But with police and fire being 24-hour operations, there ultimately needs to be more than one person” in that role.
Options that will be considered next fiscal year include hiring a part-time or full-time analyst, or contracting for additional support from San Benito County.
“We’ll figure out what works best and is most economical,” Quilter said. “Ultimately, we’re going to save a little or about break even” with the reorganization of the information systems department. “Things aren’t going to get substantially better economically, so we’re looking at any opportunity we can to make things more efficient and save money.”
