As Columbus City Utilities continues a search for a new executive director, the department is asking the city to consider reimbursing moving expenses for the successful candidate.
Interim director Keith Reeves said that Smith & Syberg, the firm that was engaged to begin the job search, told the department that one handicap to attracting quality applicants is that the city of Columbus does not pay for moving expenses.
In talking with city attorney Alan Whitted, he learned that they would need a city ordinance in order to be able to offer this benefit, Reeves said.
“We’ve had some informal discussions with a few city council members, and also through the mayor’s office," Reeves said. "And I think we’ve got support for having that."
Board member David Spear said that it seemed like a "logical" decision and noted that such benefits are common in "outside industry."
While city government is typically not allowed to provide for moving expenses, the State Board of Accounts has indicated that if there was a city ordinance on the subject, they wouldn’t treat it as a violation, said board attorney Stan Gamso.
With that in mind, and after speaking with the mayor’s office and human resources, it makes sense to recommend that city administration and city council consider an ordinance or modify current ordinances, Gamso said.
In discussing the matter, board member and vice chair Barry Turner said that he once worked for an employer who had him keep track of moving expenses and records. However, this became "cumbersome," and the policy later changed to paying a bonus of an extra month’s salary if an employee was asked to move.
The board’s recommendation to city council would likely not include a specific structure for the relocation benefit but instead a simple request asking them to consider putting such a benefit into place.
He said that the recommendation will have to be based on the meeting minutes. Melinda Burton, executive administrative assistant at the utilities department, said that this recommendation "only pertains to our director position and no other staff."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”What’s next” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
According to municipal code, if city council were to vote on an actual ordinance, it would require two readings in order to pass, unless rules are suspended. Ordinances cannot be passed on the same day as their introduction except for by unanimous consent, provided two-thirds of council members are present and voting.
Also, ordinances must be sent to city council’s presiding officer at least 11 days in advance of their introduction and to each council member at least seven days in advance, unless the council votes to suspend the rules.
City council’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at 6 p.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the director search” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
On Feb. 26, the city of Columbus announced that now-former executive director Scott Dompke was no longer an employee of the utilities department.
Dompke held the position for two and a half years, taking over from Keith Reeves, who previously retired in 2018.
In response to a formal records request under the Indiana Open Records Law, city attorney Alan Whitted said there were no formal charges or disciplinary action taken in regards to Dompke. Indiana law requires government agencies to provide “the factual basis for a disciplinary action in which final action has been taken and that resulted in an employee being suspended, demoted, or discharged.”
The utilities board recently appointed Reeves to serve as interim director amid the candidate search.
They also voted to engage the firm Smith & Syberg to begin the job search and appointed a search committee of city officials.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
