Greenfield appoints Margaret Mobley
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Greenfield Village Council voted to approve an interim finance director this week, while legal counsel continues to find out whether or not a permanent replacement will have to be a hired position or an elected one, as the municipality undergoes the conversion from a city to a village.
The council, which held their regular session Tuesday, May 17, also discussed additional hires, as proposed by city manager Betty Bishop, as well as limitations on hiring due to budget constraints.
Earlier this week, Greenfield Finance Director Karen Daniels resigned from her post, effective immediately.
Bishop, whose title remains city manager by statute even though Greenfield is now considered a village, recommended to council an interim director, along with additional hires and transfers. She reported that Greenfield had previously thought that they would have to advertise to hire a finance director. However, once the conversion is made to village status, law director Brian Zets believes that the position will change to village treasurer, which is an elected position decided by voters. Bishop said that he is seeking legal opinions from the state, and she will continue to update council on the matter.
“I am appointing (current tax administrator) Margaret Mobley as acting village treasurer to serve until she or a new treasurer is elected,” Bishop said in the city manager’s report. “Roberta (Karnes) will remain as clerk until a new clerk is elected. Roberta, as the secretary to the city manager, will be temporarily moving into the finance office. Carolyn Snodgrass, whose primary duties are in the water/sewer billing office which is already under the finance department, will be helping with adjustments. I have advised all personnel involved that they will have the opportunity to return to their original positions upon new officers taking office. Then I recommended hiring Jessica Ross as a utility billing/financial clerk and assigning her to the front desk for now. We had interviewed in March for a laborer position and recommend hiring one of those gentlemen to be assigned to the water department with additional duties of meter reading.
"Even though Law Director Zets advises these appointments can be made by me, I ask for a vote of council approving those appointments,” Bishop said.
Bishop said that with the current staffing levels, Greenfield was having difficulties in keeping up with certain jobs, such as pot holes in streets and alleys, overflows of sewers and storm sewers, collapsing storm sewers (some of which are located under structures), water/sewer meter reading, shut-offs, mowing around the community, including the cemetery, reports in finance office and day-to-day operations.”
Council voted 4-0 to accept Daniels’ resignation, but did not vote to approve all of Bishop’s recommendations.
Council member Harvey Everhart said that he could not support all of her recommendations, because he did not see where Greenfield would get the funds.
Council member Bob Bergstrom was not in attendance.
Everhart asked Bishop what had changed in recent months that provided Greenfield with enough funds to support additional hires.
Bishop said that nothing, as far as revenue, had changed, but that she had been assured that the funds were available, it just needed to be appropriated.
“Income tax revenues shows we’re down about $30,000 this year as opposed to last year,” Everhart said.
“Each month we’re still bringing in more money than we’re spending,” Bishop said. “That will change this month (because of bond issues) but our general fund is still growing.”
Everhart said he could not vote to approve Bishop’s entire report and all the recommended hires.
“I am telling you, this is what needs to be done to get the job done,” Bishop said. “If you guys want to break it down and do it differently, I’ll have to accept that. But I am telling you, we need to do this.”
Council member William Redenbaugh said, “There are funds available for these hires. Now, are the funds there to be spent for that? It’s the difference between having funds appropriated and having funds later. Is it a necessity? You’re telling me we need help. You will have to increase appropriations for that funding.”
Everhart said, “You’re telling me we’ve got sewers collapsing, we’ve got everything going on, we’ve got potholes all over the city and you have no money to do that ...”
“We don’t have the people to do it, either,” Bishop said.
“If you don’t have the money to do any of it and we’re hiring extra people, we’re going to have less money to do it,” Everhart said.
“We’ve got to have the people to do what we need to do,” Bishop said.
Everhart said, “If you don’t have the funds to buy supplies with, what’s the people going to do?”
Council voted 4-0 to approve Moberly as the interim finance director, the internal changes for employee jobs, and the hiring of Ross. Council did not vote to approve the hiring of another water department employee.[[In-content Ad]]
The council, which held their regular session Tuesday, May 17, also discussed additional hires, as proposed by city manager Betty Bishop, as well as limitations on hiring due to budget constraints.
Earlier this week, Greenfield Finance Director Karen Daniels resigned from her post, effective immediately.
Bishop, whose title remains city manager by statute even though Greenfield is now considered a village, recommended to council an interim director, along with additional hires and transfers. She reported that Greenfield had previously thought that they would have to advertise to hire a finance director. However, once the conversion is made to village status, law director Brian Zets believes that the position will change to village treasurer, which is an elected position decided by voters. Bishop said that he is seeking legal opinions from the state, and she will continue to update council on the matter.
“I am appointing (current tax administrator) Margaret Mobley as acting village treasurer to serve until she or a new treasurer is elected,” Bishop said in the city manager’s report. “Roberta (Karnes) will remain as clerk until a new clerk is elected. Roberta, as the secretary to the city manager, will be temporarily moving into the finance office. Carolyn Snodgrass, whose primary duties are in the water/sewer billing office which is already under the finance department, will be helping with adjustments. I have advised all personnel involved that they will have the opportunity to return to their original positions upon new officers taking office. Then I recommended hiring Jessica Ross as a utility billing/financial clerk and assigning her to the front desk for now. We had interviewed in March for a laborer position and recommend hiring one of those gentlemen to be assigned to the water department with additional duties of meter reading.
"Even though Law Director Zets advises these appointments can be made by me, I ask for a vote of council approving those appointments,” Bishop said.
Bishop said that with the current staffing levels, Greenfield was having difficulties in keeping up with certain jobs, such as pot holes in streets and alleys, overflows of sewers and storm sewers, collapsing storm sewers (some of which are located under structures), water/sewer meter reading, shut-offs, mowing around the community, including the cemetery, reports in finance office and day-to-day operations.”
Council voted 4-0 to accept Daniels’ resignation, but did not vote to approve all of Bishop’s recommendations.
Council member Harvey Everhart said that he could not support all of her recommendations, because he did not see where Greenfield would get the funds.
Council member Bob Bergstrom was not in attendance.
Everhart asked Bishop what had changed in recent months that provided Greenfield with enough funds to support additional hires.
Bishop said that nothing, as far as revenue, had changed, but that she had been assured that the funds were available, it just needed to be appropriated.
“Income tax revenues shows we’re down about $30,000 this year as opposed to last year,” Everhart said.
“Each month we’re still bringing in more money than we’re spending,” Bishop said. “That will change this month (because of bond issues) but our general fund is still growing.”
Everhart said he could not vote to approve Bishop’s entire report and all the recommended hires.
“I am telling you, this is what needs to be done to get the job done,” Bishop said. “If you guys want to break it down and do it differently, I’ll have to accept that. But I am telling you, we need to do this.”
Council member William Redenbaugh said, “There are funds available for these hires. Now, are the funds there to be spent for that? It’s the difference between having funds appropriated and having funds later. Is it a necessity? You’re telling me we need help. You will have to increase appropriations for that funding.”
Everhart said, “You’re telling me we’ve got sewers collapsing, we’ve got everything going on, we’ve got potholes all over the city and you have no money to do that ...”
“We don’t have the people to do it, either,” Bishop said.
“If you don’t have the money to do any of it and we’re hiring extra people, we’re going to have less money to do it,” Everhart said.
“We’ve got to have the people to do what we need to do,” Bishop said.
Everhart said, “If you don’t have the funds to buy supplies with, what’s the people going to do?”
Council voted 4-0 to approve Moberly as the interim finance director, the internal changes for employee jobs, and the hiring of Ross. Council did not vote to approve the hiring of another water department employee.[[In-content Ad]]