City personnel costs surge Folk wisdom is that when you find yourself in a hole, you should stop digging. But no one has ever accused Pompano City government of being wise. Pompano appears to be sliding down an ever-steepening slope into a financial quagmire, accelerated by increasing salaries and new hires in all levels of city staff. A few weeks ago I took a look at the 4th floor at Pompano City Hall – the administrative seat of power – and the cost for that ‘special’ talent. Last week I looked at the salaries of other city employees in Pompano Beach for the calendar year 2007. This week I focus on the economics and related events, including the simplistic views of one elected official. The cost of city government has been burgeoning under City Manager Keith Chadwell. When we focused on the expansion of his offices on the fourth floor, we found things getting decisively top heavy. Phyllis Korab was promoted to Assistant City Manager; Brian Donovan was promoted to Assistant to the City Manager; Suzette Sibble was promoted to Chief Financial Officer; and Agnew Jean-Pierre was hired to be the new City Controller. Robert R. Franke, 51, was recently hired to be the new Community Redevelopment Director, effective March 3rd, with an annual salary of $107,000. There is still a vacancy for another Assistant City Manager. Viewing this expansion through plain and simple economics, Pompano’s city government is growing in both size and cost, at a rapid pace, under the new city manager. This must surely concern elected officials especially since Chadwell wants the process of establishing the 2008-09 city budget to begin two months early this year. The new constitutional amendment gives significant tax relief to a large number of homeowners in working and lower middle classes, and that relief translates in lower tax revenues for local governments. That shortfall will hit at the end of the year, as taxes are levied for 2008. Unless there is truth to the rumors that former City Manager C. William Hargett, Jr., squirreled away money – sharp pencils will have to be used often in the upcoming budget just to maintain Pompano’s financial viability. I still believe we are in a recession and heading deeper. Economists and market analysts agree that the economy is having serious problems, although there is some disagreement or uncertainty about whether things will get worse, and by how much. They do seem to agree that it will be perhaps six months and maybe as much as a year and a half before the market begins to recover. In an election year, you would think this would be a foremost concern among our elected officials. But sometimes those who sit in lofty and almost impregnable castles in the air cannot see the forest for the trees. District 5 Pompano Beach City Commissioner Brummer recently complained from the dais that we, as taxpayers, are always reducing everything to economics. In this shaky economy, I think it is not only advisable to look at things that way, but essential. In his diatribes, Brummer advocates that the City get off the economic kick and look at issues from other perspectives. That is certainly an interesting statement from an elected legislator who is supposed to view the cost of programs, determine their economic impact, and analyze how they possibly will affect residents in the city before approving them. Frankly, no one is paying any attention to Brummer or his district. Out in Palm Aire there is a non-race in District 5. Brummer, the incumbent, is running unopposed in a well-greased and tightly controlled political machine created by Brummer’s predecessor more than two decades ago. It is so predictable that none of the recognized news media is covering it. Why Brummer believes the media should cover his non-race is beyond me, but it irks him so much that he has complained from the dais, that no one from the large county newspapers is covering his non-race. Imagine that. At a time when national candidates for President of the United States are running all over the country trying to secure votes in a quasi-national primary, poor George Brummer is crying because nobody gives a damn about him or any other city commission races in little Pompano Beach? By the way, the city commission could have voted to join the State primary on January 29th, got the coverage and perhaps saved our taxpayers more than $120,000. Our commissioners (with the clueless Kay McGinn leading the way) wanted to keep our own local election so the candidates didn’t get “lost with the big named candidates.” The former Mayor of Hollywood might not agree with that premise. If Brummer really has such a disdain for the press on their lack of coverage, he should only blame himself. He once was the editor of a small leaflet house organ in Palm Aire. Unfortunately it was not well written, distributed, nor read – and I don’t think many who live in Palm Aire even remember the brochure. But in media matters, Brummer knows the rules. He should call up the large dailies and tell them off – throw around his weight. After all he and his fellow commissioners squander almost a quarter of a million dollars a year in legal ads with the Sun-Sentinel. I too have worked with big papers that carried legal ads. We listened to the complaints made by boring elected officials. We never did anything about them, but we listened – and then even laughed in the lunchroom – sometimes for hours. Brummer recently also publicly stated there is not enough salary to justify serving on the commission. He thinks there should be a raise. Talk about a hog with both feet in the trough, and at a time when the City’s financial welfare is in doubt. I have often written that Brummer thinks he is the smartest commissioner on the dais. In fact, all anyone has to do to prove that statement is ask Brummer himself. Seriously, Commissioner Brummer should just quit in protest and anger. He can blame it on the fact the media didn’t cover Pompano or himself. He can claim he is underpaid. He can even claim his district is known for electing curmudgeons who disagree with everybody on everything. He can blame it on the water, maybe with some legitimate justification. Of course, there must be some age discrimination there too. And let’s not forget discrimination against people who lack common sense. If it does happen (and you’ll notice me not holding my breath), it will make great reading and I will do my best to have some of my writer associates at the dailies cover the story. Now having had the opportunity for a bit of personal political comment, we can conclude with the serious business of this article: the hiring at city hall. I received quite a few comments about the perceived bloated cost of government when I wrote about the top 100 paid city workers (and published info on them all). Many questioned the potential economic shortfall this city is facing due to the passage of Amendment One. Some even questioned that the new city manager should have thought, with the uncertainty of the passage of Amendment One, there should have been caution in the hiring process and a little belt tightening until the vote. Nope. It was business as usual and the hiring of personnel continued as like a car driving into a railroad tunnel, oblivious to the shaking and ever-brightening light in the distance. Below is a list of the personnel changes made in the city during the time from August 11, 2008 to January 11, 2009 – (since Chadwell has run the City): NAME POSITION DEPARTMENT Brunner, Russell Customer Service Representative Building Inspections Thomas, Trellvis Service Worker I Water Distribution Smith, Megan Lifeguard Aquatics Saley, Sean Lifeguard Aquatics Friedberg, Jonathan Firefighter Fire Operations Defranceschi,lvo Firefighter Fire Operations Garablto Riscart, lester Firefighter Fire Operations Hall, Kathryn Recreation leader Recreation Activities Wesolowski, Richard Firefighter EMS/Spc Dist Fund/Fire Banarsi, Khemraj Service Worker IV Water Treatment Plant Casale, Christopher Recreation leader Recreation Activities Bosanac, Maureen Preschool Teacher Preschool Turnbull, Elvis Heavy Equipment Operator Water Distribution Troutman, Latia Recreation Aide Recreation Activities Zigler, Sheila Secretary I Fire Operations Jean Pierre,Agnew Controller Finance Adm/Accounting Sanchez, Felix Service Worker I Recreation Activities Morton, Christopher Util Treatment Plant Trainee Water Treatment Plant Alexander III, Hardy Service Worker I Recreation Activities Adams, Darrel Service Worker I Recreation Activities Murillo, Marco Service Worker I Recreation Activities Brooks, Derita Bus Driver Recreation Activities Namor, Scott Mechanic II Vehicle Service 1 Grosheim, Greggory Lifeguard Aquatics Baker, Richard Recreation Aide Recreation Activities Mayo, Kimberly Planner Planning White, Sheena Recreation Aide Recreation Activities Howard, Willie Service Worker I Water Distribution Medina, Alexander Administrative Coordinator Cdbg Administration Appelblatt, Daniel Firefighter’ EMS/Spc Dist Fund/Fire Piper, Marc Firefighter Fire Operations Macneir, Matthew Firefighter Fire Operations Richter, Ronald General Trades Mechanic Recreation Activities Grudo, Cynthia Customer Service Representative Customer Service Jaradi, Derrick General Trades Mechanic Asst. Building Maintenance Doyen, Kevin General Trades Mechanic Asst. Building Maintenance Part-Time to Full-Time: Williams, Shannon Service Worker II Streets Hayes, Isaac Service Worker I Water Distribution Evans II, Jeffrey Lifeguard Aquatics Chapman, Michael Comm Devel Coordinator CDBG Administration Worden, Kevin Firefighter Fire Operations Promotion: Sibbie, Suzette Finance Director Finance Adm/Accounting Hardy,Dion Service Worker III Water Distribution Sneed, Jeffrey Maintenance Foreman Grounds Maintenance Carr, David Service Worker IV Sewer Transmlssion Panico, Dennis License Inspector Planning Daly, Stephen Mechanic III Vehicle Service Newson, Vicky Principal Planner Planning Bowman, A. Richard Housing & Urban Improv. Director CDBG Administration Lucas, Excel Service Worker II Water Distribution Sandell, Richard Fire Lieutenant Fire Operations Sworn, Drake Fire Lieutenant EMS/Spc Dist Fund/fire Nielsen, Cheryl EMS Captain EMS/Spc Dist Fund/Fire Scarlzera. Michael Driver Engineer Fire Operations Geer, Michael Driver Engineer Fire Operations Bernat, John Service Worker III Sewer Transmission Berrian, Jermaine Service Worker III Grounds Maintenance Rogers, Anthony Service Worker IlI Grounds Maintenance Gray,James Lifeguard Lieutenant Aquatics Wadlington, Maribel Occupational license Tech Planning Ziontz, Tana Department Head Secretary Finance Adm/Accounting Desinor, Jean Lift Station Operator I Sewer Pumping Larkin, Jeffery Service Worker II Sewer Transmission Jenssen, Donald Civil Engineer III Engineering Retirements: Bunza,Mark Printing Technician Graphics Brooks. Joseph Fire Lieutenant Fire Operations Cole,Treva Department Head Secretary Finance Adm/Accounting Pollett, James Mechanic II Vehicle Service Transfer: Allen Hall, Patricia Recreation Aide Recreation Activities Davey, Marie Secretary I Fire Administration Lindholm, Dustin Service Worker IV Water Treatment Plant Lyons, Aaron Service Worker I Sewer Transmission