Community Corner

Vernon Democratic Council Member Releases Statement on DPW-Rec Consolidation

Thomas DiDio is also a candidate for mayor.

Town Council Democrat and mayoral candidate Thomas DiDio released the following statement on Monday regarding a plan by the administration to embark on a nine-month trial to shift the direction of Parks and Recreation buildings and grounds to the Department of Public Works:

"The Mayor recently informed the Town Council that he had directed the Public Works Department to assume responsibility for the maintenance of all buildings and grounds of the Parks and Recreation Department. This is to be done as a nine-month pilot program. Six Parks and Recreation crew members would now report to the Public Works Department, and the existing supervisor position was eliminated. There would be an approximately $64,000 savings from letting this individual go.

"We are not disputing that this action would be beneficial for the town, but we do have other issues with a possible Charter violation and the lack of best management practices.

"The Charter outlines the duties of the parks and recreation director, which include control over the entire department. Work can be carried out by Public Works, but this does not authorize transfer of control or budget. The permanent transfer of employees specifically requires the approval of the Town Council and not the Mayor. A review was reportedly conducted by the Town Attorney and found to be acceptable. Since the Town Attorney is also the Republican Town chair, however, we requested an unbiased opinion, which was denied.

"We had asked for a copy of the cost/benefit analysis and found that none had been done. We asked for specific goals and objectives. Again, none were established. We asked for the method of measuring success. Nothing established here too. We asked for a cost/saving report. We were told that there was an immediate saving by letting the present supervisor go. It seems to us that by letting him go ahead of getting results it would be difficult to go back. We asked if the parks and recreation director would receive a decrease in pay and whether the public works director would require an increase in pay due to the change in responsibilities. No answer was provided.

"We asked if these additional responsibilities would overwhelm the Public Works Director.

"We asked about the conflict of interest between what the parks and recreation director might need accomplished versus what the public works director would allow. The fact that the parks and recreation director would still be responsible for all costs, even though control of the manpower and activities would be under the Public Works Director. This separation of responsibility and authority is bad management practice.

"It is apparent to us the decision to make this change has already been made and the “experiment” is just fluff to back into that decision.

"Good management practices call for a cost/savings analysis and a benefit analysis. Measurable goals and objectives must be set ahead of any “experiment” in order to objectively assess whether or not this concept is truly efficient and financially viable.

"We absolutely need to bring good management practices to Vernon government and not rely on a warm feeling or by “backing into results,” as the administration proposes."

Mayor George Apel has stood by the decision and said during the Town Council meeting at which DiDio and Michael Winkler voiced the Charter and procedural concerns that he could rule the conversation out of order but chose to let the questions persist.


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