Employee review plan splits board
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Supervisor Satish Mohan already has a plan in motion to review employee performance, and on Monday, town Council Member Shelly Schratz attempted to add department heads to the mix.

Her resolution to address the issue of department head evaluations was voted down, but Mohan said he already has been addressing the issue with Personnel Director Bob McCarthy.

Prior to the vote, the council members debated the effectiveness of Schratz's plan.

"The reason I am bringing this forward is to understand the type of job they are doing," she said, adding that in the seven years she has served she has never seen an evaluation done.

Schratz noted that the evaluation would not only address the performance of the department heads but allow them to talk about issues they are having with the board and their duties.

"It's an excellent business practice that needs to be put into place," she said. "It makes sure (they are doing their job). They are paid a very good wage, most if not all of them."

Schratz was seeking an overall department head evaluation procedure that would be done annually on the department head's anniversary date.

Council Member William A. O'Loughlin Jr. said he doesn't favor the procedure because after the review there is no action the board can take.

"There is nothing we can do," he said, adding that a bad review would mean nothing. "It won't affect their pay; they can't be demoted. There would be no consequences. This (plan) has no teeth."

Council Member Dan Ward had a completely different view on the proposed resolution, saying supervisors are "stuck" with department heads from previous supervisors.

He said if he were supervisor he would like to put his own people into the positions because at present it's hard to get work done.

Schratz said her reason for the resolution was to set a measuring stick for department heads.

Because the motion failed, Schratz's plan will not be pursued. However, Mohan, who previously had a resolution passed, said he is moving forward with employee reviews.

Mohan asked McCarthy to have the procedure completed by Feb. 15 so that department heads and the supervisor could follow for evaluations.

"We can say to them this is right or wrong," Mohan said, adding that the employees would be told what could be done better or given kudos for their work.

Council Member Mike McGuire pointed out that department heads - for example, the Police Department - already have a review system for employees.

In addition to the employee review, Mohan has pursued drug testing for employees and organizing the recording of sick and vacation time.

Another procedure questioned during the meeting was hiring an official's child. Council Member Deborah Bruch-Bucki chose to vote against a part-time employee appointment for the Youth Department.

She said she didn't feel comfortable approving the appointment because the applicant was the daughter of Town Clerk Susan Jaros.

Interim Youth Board Director Mark Johnston defended his decision to hire the woman, stating that she was qualified. The opening had been advertised in the newspapers.

The position of youth activity leader is part-time and pays $7.76 per hour. Johnston said those hired are usually college students working while going to school.

The Town Board has discussed the nepotism issue in the past, but no official policy has been established. The appointments were approved.

The next Town Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26.