Department Head Meeting ~Valentine's Day

          I thought I would give you a little insight as to what is discussed at a typical Department Head meeting.  As I have mentioned before, Newton is revamping their Employee Manual which includes modifications to the present pay scale.  They are going from 7 steps to 14 steps with a floating system which eliminates COLA.  The impact of these raises will be divided between funds and will be effective in January 2013.  Prior to the City Council meeting to present this, the City Manager and Assistant City Managers will meet one-on-one with each of the Council members so that they will be able to ask any immediate questions they have and time to reflect about it.  The city has hired Austin Powers for this research and they will present their findings at the 4/13 Council meeting.  This will not result in a tax increase.  Rates of pay will be based on the market.  Management deems this as the city's obligation to its employees, and does not consider this an option.
         The next item discussed had to do with IT.  City Hall has made arrangements for PTI to do an assessment of their current system and future needs.  I had been invited to sit in on a conference call between Alan Shark of PTI and both of the Assistant City Managers and the IT person.  PTI was recently in Phoenix making a presentation at Alliance for Innovation (or it might have been at ICMA).  They will do a SWOT analysis including budgeting, personnel, and the system which will include talking to those in IT and others as well.  Consideration is being given to moving or integrating computers from Fire Station 1 to City Hall as the Fire Department has a stand alone system.  Everything is expected to be centralized eventually.  A second visit will take place 60 to 90 days later to present findings.  One of the Assistant City Managers will be researching the IT expenditures of various departments.
          The next item discussed was leadership training.  Implementation of servant leadership is to be a citywide process, a culture we embrace through maximizing strengths.  Internally this is seen by some as a conflict between top-down and bottom-up management styles.  Communication is seen as being very important.  The current situation is seen as being reactionary instead of proactive.  Supervisor training is seen as been easier than leadership training.  Newton is in the process of hiring a financial management analyst and an office manager for the airport.
          The final topic dealt with current legislation being considered by the State of Kansas.  It is expected that KDOT will be losing some of its state funding.  The State is considering tax lids and policies freezing government.  All in all, this is seen as an attack on cities, similar to the viewpoint of cities in Arizona.
          On a lighter note, the husband of the Public Information Officer appeared up as the meeting was ending.  He is a very talented member of a barber shop quartet which were also in tow.  They seranaded the PIO with a couple of tunes for Valentine's Day which we all enjoyed.  This left the Fire Chief wondering if his wife would find his toaster oven a satisfactory gift (LOL).