Saturday, April 08, 2000
City's policy on OT questioned
3 in sanitation could nearly double salary
BY ROBERT ANGLEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Eleven supervisors in the Cincinnati sanitation department have been paid more than $242,000 in combined overtime in the last 15 months.
And at least three of those supervisors could come close to doubling their salaries this year if they are paid at the rates they have gotten since January.
“That's pretty amazing,” said Councilman Paul Booth, who chairs the council's Neighborhood and Public Works Committee. “It appears to me that we need to call for a review of the city's overtime policy.”
City Manager John Shirey said Friday the city pays about $15 million annually in overtime, with almost half of that going to police and fire employees.
“We make ample use of overtime to get things done,” he said, adding it is often cheaper to pay employees extra than hire new employees. “I think it is unfair to single out one division in one department.”
City records show that overtime payments in the sanitation department have steadily increased since 1995, when 13 assistant supervisors were paid a total of $56,804, to 1999, when 11 were paid $181,618.
For the first three months this year, 11 have so far been paid a total of $60,635 in overtime.
This is in addition to salaries that average about $47,000 annually, not including benefits.
Daryl Brock, public services director, said there is no alternative to paying overtime to supervisors who monitor the city's force of trash collectors.
“I don't want anyone in the public to get the wrong idea that money was spent unwisely,” he said. “Our operation is an open book.”
Crews pick up more than 400 tons of garbage daily from Cincinnati's 139,000 households and 12,000 small businesses. They also clean up after special events and respond to traffic accidents.
“My assistant supervisors manage about 12 to 15 crews apiece,” he said. “We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The assistant supervisors routinely work 60- to 70-hour weeks and “are the first line of defense” for the employees who toss trash cans for a living,
Mr. Brock said.
One of the supervisors who has been paid the most in the last 15 months is the son of the sanitation department's second-in-command. Michael Kelley, son of Cleophus Kelley, has been paid $12,139 so far this year and made $29,586 last year on top of his $48,566 salary.
Mr. Brock said overtime is done on a volunteer basis and that Mr. Kelley does not approve overtime for his son.
In 1997 — when overtime for supervisors went from about $61,000 to $89,000 — the sanitation department started on a series of neighborhood cleanup projects that involve spending at least a week in each of the city's 52 neighborhoods.
Mr. Brock said he simply doesn't have enough supervisors, but said hiring more would be more expensive than paying overtime.
Including benefits, the average salary of a supervisor would be about $60,000. Given the amount of overtime paid last year, the department could have hired three additional supervisors at $60,000 a year.
Mr. Brock said that wouldn't cover all the jobs that need to get done, and he would still be forced to pay overtime. He also said hiring new employees is politically unpopular at a time when City Council members are asking departments to cut back.
Although his department has never gone over budget, Mr. Brock said he is looking at moving supervisors from highway maintenance into sani tation as a way to curb the amount of overtime.
“This is another scheme to waste taxpayer dollars,” Councilman Charlie Winburn said of the overtime expenses. “This is the city manager's responsibility and it is another reason why the council needs to review the city manager's preformance.”
Councilman Phil Heimlich said he isn't ready to call it a waste. But he said the overtime is a clear indicator of why city departments should have to compete with private companies for the business.
“I can't say it is cheaper to do it this way, or hire new people,” he said. “But I know that competition is the way to get the best deal for the taxpayers.”
Holiday tradition goes on auction block
Winter returns for a day
Teachers must have lots of heart
City's policy on OT questioned
Consultant owed city back taxes
Council barred from meeting in secret
Bengals' ticket guarantee fought
Mooney will head state teachers union
Murder suspect ends standoff
Quints' sleep-deprived parents still smiling
Sculptures in sand made at aquarium
New warning sirens cover most of Kenton County
No tolerance for zero tolerance
Peace Bell soon to be rung daily
Inmate's aunt held in scheme
Student council money missing
UC-Ohio State cooperation stressed at board meeting
GET TO IT
Passionate conductor inspires CSO players
Reserve time for Cincinnati Flower Show lectures, teas
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Another sad chapter in Hamilton
Community march scheduled for Easter
Denied phone call, county inmate sues
FBI to check killers' history
Governor's home in need of repairs
Mallory wants charter school data released
Monroe board to be decided
Parents rally fight over board
Police to look into blank tape
Purple Heart chapter started
TRISTATE DIGEST
