Monday, December 20, 1999
Lebanon might cut city jobs
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
LEBANON — City administration could be smaller next year if council moves ahead with a 2000 budget that cuts the deputy city manager and assistant to the city manager positions.
Deputy City Manager Ed Patterson and Sherry Callahan, assistant to the city manager, would lose their jobs.
Mr. Patterson, a former Lebanon council member, has been deputy city manager since February. Mrs. Callahan has been with the city for several years.
The deputy position was created about 18 months ago to handle day-to-day city oper ations and free the manager for such tasks as as economic development and city planning.
”That hasn't happened,” said council member James Reinhard. “If you don't want to operate that way ... we're not going to fund these positions when the budget is as tight as it is. When we hired (City Manager James Patrick) we told him about our plan for a deputy city manager.”
Council members said they intend to give the first reading to a budget today that includes those cuts and leaves a dispatcher and deputy engineer position unfilled.
Some savings from those two positions might be used to fund a human resources person, council members said.
The budget would include a 3 percent across-the-board cost of living increase but would eliminate merit pay.
Council could also look at reinstituting a bonus plan and reviewing pay structures.
The $48 million budget is balanced but remains tight.
Mr. Reinhard said the city can't sacrifice services, so administrators took the hit.
“The only place left to cut anything was in administration,” he said. “I wanted more cuts, but I was outvoted.”
Mr. Patrick, who started in July, is concerned council may be cutting too much, possibly leaving him shorthanded.
”I don't know that I need both positions, but I definitely need one,” he said.
Shooting cars a dangerous tactic
Missed shots
Are teen drivers getting better?
High air fares getting attention
Toyota sets expansion at Princeton truck plant
1,000 help prelate mark anniversary
Senior center needs $23,000
Donors come through for Tristate's needy
Fireworks to usher in 2000 with bang
City floats water ideas
Handling grief at holidays
Meeting to clear air on Lemon annexation
Old homes a specialty
Tobacco farmers worried
Head Start to weigh report on contract
Lebanon might cut city jobs
No arrest in shooting of two men
Towns hope to share Butler Co. growth
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
