FINANCIAL BUSINESS REQUEST (FBR)
Motion/Request:
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MOTION to approve an additional appropriation of $11,285 from Undesignated Fund Balance to Account 10114301-51800 (Part-time Wages/Fiscal Assistant II) to increase the hours of Land Use Department Fiscal Assistant II from 20-hours to 35-hours per week to support a demanding workload.
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Background:
On 10/21/24, the full-time Land Use Dept. Fiscal Asst. II took 12-weeks of maternity leave and the Town hired an experienced former Dept. employee temporarily for 20-hours per week to fill-in for said time period. Subsequently, the FT staff member resigned her position on 2/6/25 and in an effort to reduce costs, a permanent part-time 20-hour per week Fiscal Assistant was hired to replace the full-time 35-hour per week position. Once hired, it was determined that the temporary staff had not been carrying-out the same tasks as the FT staff and the Dept. is now overwhelmed with a backload of work. During the months of August and September alone, we received 237 permits. In addition to handling that workload, Erin continues to manage to the best of her ability all of her other responsibilities, including all fiscal matters related to the Dept. & assisting the public requesting information about building, zoning, wetlands & blight in person. Looking ahead, the Dept. will need, in the absence of the Building Official during upcoming, planned FMLA, a person who can not only process permits, but also handle both his phone calls and hers, as well as schedule inspections for the part-time inspectors covering the work.
Department Comment/Recommendation:
In the professional opinion of the Building Official and the Director of Land Use & Planning and the background provided above, to ensure the job is done efficiently and to the best of ability of the Fiscal Asst. II, this position needs to return to full-time status.
Finance Director Comment/Recommendation:
The potential impact to other benefit related expe...
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