From the City's website:
There will be a COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING on October 1st, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Possible topics for discussion:
Job Description-Computer Technician
Lights for Brooks Park
Marquis
Park Grant for Norman Myers & Brooks Park
Parking Problem at 2200 Woodson Rd
Appointment for Board of Adjustment
Trash-for those not able to pay
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15 comments:
Regarding the Computer Technician requirements. I believe that regardless of educational background (whether they have completed a degree), that requiring A+ certification is a must.
This test proves that one has both the skills and knowledge to be a qualified Tech.
While I am glad they are hiring a computer technician, what about a web person? Even Part Time?
The thing about technology is that one usually specializes in one area. Or, you don't usually have a jack (or jill) of all trades.
But I thought the current MIS guy that everyone loves was also the web person. Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking him because some of the situation may be out of his control as others have pointed out, I just think the web site is a mess, regardless of who is to blame or how congenial the guy may be.
And remember that former building inspector they almost rehired? I heard through the grapevine that during the years he was gone from city hall that he also picked up webmaster experience. (Meaning he was paid to build and maintain web sites, not just throw something on the web for fun.) Seems they could have killed two birds with one stone (and saved some money) hiring this guy instead of running him off in a salary dispute.
Who did Schneider's campaign web site? If the patronage/payback train is chugging at full steam as many here are saying, maybe Schneider already has someone in mind.
An inspector/webOh Lordy! Part of Overland's problem is trying to get one person to do two jobs. Usually they don't do either very well.
The new position is a desktop support type position. If you work in an office, think of the person who comes and fixes your PC when it has issues.
I thought the other guy (Sweetness for lack of a better name) was more of a networking and AV type of guy.
So, perhaps they need a new person to be a webmaster. Perhaps they can hire a PT inspector who can also work PT as a webmaster. (But don't we need a full-time inspector?)
Just think, if we got a really good and quality web person in there, we could automate a lot of stuff--permit applications, community center classes, and the like.
The Current MIS guy is simply swamped. There is too much work for one person and worse, when he had a day off or vacation there is no one to handle the website, maintain the computers etc.
Suzyjax I agree that A+ should be required. For those who may not know this is usually the first certification most computer professionals get and it covers computer hardware and software.
However, I would also think that N+ should be required (covers networking and the like), S+ should be considered a must (covers computer and information security) and perhaps I-Net+ (which covers the workings of the Internet, web pages, etc). Alternately, many of these topics (with the exception of the web design stuff I believe) are covered by MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer).
This department needs someone who can first and foremost handle all of the maintenance tasks on the various departments computers, the City's network hardware, peripherals (printers, scanners, networked copiers, etc), and the like. If this person can handle these critical tasks than the current MIS person could devote more time to the website as they would be sharing the workload.
Alternately, they could focus on getting a well trained / experienced web designer on staff who is also capable of doing the various maintenance tasks. This way the Current MIS person could focus on the hardware and network, but would have someone to cover for him while on vacation and the like.
Either way they need to hire a professional, preferably without political ties to Overland as to avoid the appearance of impropriety (if not the reality of it).
" since I know of her also, if the real blue eyes is still a woman. Why not give others names and pass words when someone doesn't want to post, it's better then waiting months for a response from a person who is very busy with his life.
Not a darn thing wrong with that. Here's the story morning glory: Blue eyes was a woman and posted for about one hour, some retard gave her crap, she said the heck with that, so her husband became blue eyes, the second blue eyes went out of the country for six months and my friend N
had sent several emails and never got a response,
so I gave him the user name and pass word. I pay a portion for this site."
Beauty Eh?
Sailor,
The guy is probably swamped. My point is that you usually cannot find someone who can do all things like they seem to expect (and the pay rate that is in place).
They need to quit looking for "SuperComputerGuy" and look to fill what is needed. The website can always be outsourced.
When you expect someone to do everything, they seem to do nothing really well. TPTB at City Hall have yet to realize this.
A non-person example: When you buy one of those all-in-one machines that works as a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine you will find that it will do all four of these functions. However, it doesn't do them as well as a machine that is solely for a stated purpose.
Me thinks we need a CA desperately.
While I think it is possible to find someone who can perform more than one task well, I agree it's unlikely.
If the current MIS guy is so swamped, it would seem reasonable to arrange a splitting of tasks (for example, finding a dedicated webmaster).
As for using another city employee, my thoughts were that IF you hired a full-time employee for another position (inspector, for example as was mentioned) and that employee demonstrated they could do one specific task well, such as taking over the web site, then perhaps paying that person overtime for their web duties might be better financially for the city than the cost of another full time employee and the benefits that go along with that position.
The problem is, doing what I've described involves perhaps some innovative "out of the box" thinking, which I doubt we'll see from this administration. An example of what I mean by "out of the box" thinking is this. Someone posted here that the former inspector balked at salary. Did anyone consider saying, "hey, we've given you our best offer but if you need to make some more money, we might be able to give you some more work doing the web site." I don't know if the guy would be interested, but after I found out (and posted yesterday) that he had web experience, I was even more baffled that they'd let him walk over money when we clearly could use a webmaster. Yet, the Mayor and Council doesn't balk at spending $27,000 on the marquee.
I'm not in favor of outsourcing web duties. I would much prefer a full time city employee with familiarity with Overland if you can find that person.
Has this administration hired ANY employees yet? All I've heard about is the bungled situation with that inspector. What about a qualified Director of Public Works? This is considered an essential position in most municipalities, yet we hear no mention of filling it in Overland.
I wouldn't expect to see a CA hired for about a year, if at all. They will have several tabled discussions over three or four board meetings, followed by two or three workshop sessions, followed by a month or two of advertising for the position, followed by a lengthy interview process in which they will lose one or two candidate to other cities, followed by MAYBE, just MAYBE, the hiring of a CA by about this time next year ....... or they will just hire Munsch and be done with it.
After attending the workshop meeting and hearing the pay proposed I completely agree with you on this Suzyjax. Even if they did manage to find a "SuperComputerGuy" who would work for that pay-scale, chances are that person would be gone the moment a more lucrative position came up elsewhere.
Rich, the entire MIS department at the moment, suggested that they needed someone with a basic computer background that he could train up to fill the City's needs in regards to computer and network maintenance. At the pay being offered, I'd have to agree that this would be the best bet.
He also suggested that if the City wanted a more robust and interactive web site that it would likely be more cost effective to contract it out. I'm not sure if I agree with that unless he was talking about the creation of, and not the maintenance of the site.
I do have the video of that meeting online now, as well as an article covering it. You'll find both here.
Sounds like they got their eye on someone from within.
I've learned that there may indeed be a full time employee who has the college education in that field. From what I've heard the starting salary would be a raise for the employee.
I don't know what certification the employee has earned as yet. I'm told the service of the employee has been excellent and proven to be very reliable.
Haven't heard that the person is anybody's relative, neighbor or even connected to anybody on any sides.
We'll have wait and see.
Is there an "insider" with A+ certification? If so, hire them!
However, are we just now deciding to fill this position because someone's friend (even from within) wants to do something different?
The insider thing was definitely worth a raise of the eyebrows. It is just sooooooo convenient!
Not to change the subject, but on OC they are talking about the WW program.
I thought MT Schneider admitted that Ward Weirdos was an an "empty Schneider" campaign promise at the last workshop meeting.
Keep up folks on OC!
Ward Weirdos, love that name!
Yes, MT was definitely doing the "back pedal" (not to be confused with the Lindy Shuffle) regarding city support of the project.
The existing full time employee has a college education in what field? I just love it when a company (or in this case a government) takes someone with IT training and thinks, "oh sure they can do a web site." SOMETIMES that's the case, but all too often it isn't. The typical IT person knows the basics of web site construction and maybe knows a little or a lot about HTML, but frequently has no ability to create graphics, make the site functional and user friendly, make the pages load faster, make the pages the right width and so on. Web sites have become such an important tool for any organization to get their message and news to their target audience that I pray the person they select has not just web site ABILITY, but web site TALENT as well.
But of course, Schneider can't be bothered with such mundane details. Hey, let's spend 27 grand on a scrolling marquee (or marquis as the current administration likes to call it).
Director of Public Works? We don't need a Director of Public Works. Heck, we've got a painter in charge. That should be good enough.
Animal Control? We don't need animal control. Just let 'em call the county.
City Administrator? We don't need a City Administrator. Just bring in Frank Munsch, he knows the value of a dollar.
What next?
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