Tuesday, January 4, 2011

On the Council agenda

Expect some mentions of the school department at tonight's Council meeting; several agenda items specifically reference the school department:
10f. Request City Manager review the current policy for both in-state and out-of-state travel and revise or establish a new policy, inclusive of meal allowances and car rentals and mileage. Further, request that this policy be forwarded to the Superintendent and mirrored at the school department and include a review of the policy for payment or reimbursement for air, train, van and limousine travel, lodging, rental cars and add-ons, valet, meals, mileage, registrations, and other travel-related activities for all city employees. (Toomey, Germain, Rushton)
Last week's article was bound to go there. The "mirrored at the school department" is, incidentally, currently done; WPS voluntarily follows city policy, which apparently hasn't been reviewed by City Council, or, rather, the City Manager, in some time. Also, I find it interesting that the City Manager sets city policy, whereas the School Committee sets school policy.
10i. Request City Manager provide City Council with a listing of all municipal and school department positions that became vacant since October 1, 2010 categorizing each by title and as to whether or not it is currently filled, is planned to be filled, or planned to be left vacant; the salary of the individual who vacated the position and the salary of the individual who has filled any vacancy. Further, request that the reason for filling the vacated position be provided. Further, request that said reports from both the City Manager and the Superintendent be provided to City Council no later than the January 18th, 2011 City Council meeting. (Toomey)
Interesting, as the city currently funds the schools at a minimum. Are is the thought that there are "savings" here that can be recouped by the city? Not legally. There's some weird overreaching going on on this agenda...election year?
The City Council is also being forwarded the FY12 budget update, and the application for MBSA funding for Nelson Place. 

3 comments:

T-Traveler said...

if a school position becomes vacant this week and is left unfilled, what would happen to the money if it was still in the salary account on June 30, 2011?

Tracy Novick said...

This is a guess, T, but my bet would be the School Committee would vote to pre-pay special ed tuition, which we're legally able to do from one fiscal year to the next.

Tracy Novick said...

Two more things, T:
1. the F&O subcom gets quarterly reports, and we move money around every time. If we knew that a position was vacant and was going to stay so, we'd move the money earlier than 6/30.
2. This year (and this year only!) we could do something else with the money, because the Edu-jobs money can be carried forward for next fiscal year.