By Blair Dedrick, New Era Staff Writer

The hiring freeze proposed by Mayor Dan Kemp and approved by the city council in January has saved the city more than $200,000, numbers provided by the city reveal.

In response to a request from council members, City Administrative Officer Glenn Abee provided the update at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

Eight positions are vacant, five in administration, one firefighter/EMT, one police secretary and one master auto technician from the Service Department.

To date, the empty positions have saved the city $219,032. Some of the positions have been vacant since January.

“I do not envision or foresee any of those coming back,” Abee said today. “As I said to council, never say never, but I don’t see them coming back.”

The only exception to that, Abee said, would possibly be the manager of accounting position. He said if that position does return it would be as a title change with existing personnel, not as a new hire.

If the eight positions remain empty for a full year, the city would save $423,551 in salary and benefits.

The assistant city administrative officer position is the highest paid position at $67,739 base salary. The position was eliminated in May.

The police department lost two secretarial positions this year, one of which is unbudgeted and will not be replaced. The city is advertising to replace the second, funded position.

Abee presented three job descriptions to the Committee of the Whole last week as well.

The first position would change an accountant position to accounting clerk.

The second created a new position, budget officer. The budget officer position would take the place of a comptroller, which became vacant when Patrick Fletcher resigned in June, at a slightly lower pay grade.

Finally, Abee proposed replacing both the Human Resources director and assistant Human Resources director positions with one Human Resources officer.

“I have no plans to hire an HR director,” Abee said Thursday. “But we do need a position in HR as an HR officer.”

Abee said today that the only new jobs he foresees proposing to the city council at the moment are the jobs for the employees of the Recreation Commission. The deal making the commission into the city Parks and Recreation Department includes the city absorbing the eight commission employees.

In addition, Abee said the new department will increase the duties and responsibilities of Mike Perry, Parks and Cemeteries Superintendent, enough to justify a pay upgrade.

“His role will increase, and I’ll definitely be recommending moving him to a higher grade,” he said.

Abee said as he gets more familiar with the city staff he is finding strengths and knowledge that can be tapped.

“We’re going to be taking advantage of existing resources and skill sets,” he said. “The first thing you do is look for what experience level and knowledge employees have, and usually they appreciate new challenges and opportunities.”

Blair Dedrick can be reached at 887-3240 or bdedrick@kentuckynewera.com.