Jackson County cuts planning staff
Six positions in the Jackson County Planning and Building Department were cut last week due to the slow down in the building industry. In addition, two other department employees, senior planning manager Frank Etheridge and planner Toni Smith, are on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Monday night, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners contracted with consultant Don Clerici of BM&K to manage the county’s planning office.
Six people were laid off in the planning department on Friday — two inspectors, two clerks and two employees in the engineering division of the public development department.
Monday night, the BOC agreed to pay BM&K, which is owned by former planning director Clerici, to manage the county planning office and handle development and erosion inspections. The contract calls for Clerici’s company to handle the duties for up to two months. The hourly rate will be: $85 per hour/planning manager; $65 per hour/senior planner; and $45 per hour/planning tech.
Six people were laid off in the planning department on Friday — two inspectors, two clerks and two employees in the engineering division of the public development department.
Monday night, the BOC agreed to pay BM&K, which is owned by former planning director Clerici, to manage the county planning office and handle development and erosion inspections. The contract calls for Clerici’s company to handle the duties for up to two months. The hourly rate will be: $85 per hour/planning manager; $65 per hour/senior planner; and $45 per hour/planning tech.
Just as a comparision, GA DCA's 2008 Wage and Salary Survey shows the average pay scale for a Planner in Georgia is $36-54K; a Planning Director earns an average bwtn $56-83K; a Building Inspector earns an average of $30-44K; a Building Inspector Director earns $50-68K. The highest paying position are found in urban communities around Atlanta. Cobb County reported their Planning Director position paid a maximum of $157K, Gwinnett paid a max of $167K, Fulton paid a max. of $130K and Hall paid a max. of $109K. See http://www.dca.state.ga.us/dcawss/reports.html for details.
While its always important to hire good people who are capable its just as important to pay a reasonable and fair salary for that person's work. Jackson County isn't metro-Atlanta and the nature and scale of work to be conducted under this contract doesn't add up.
Jackson County BOC should no better. It begs the question of just how was this contract awarded and why are is the County willing to pay so much? There are numerous other qualified companies willing to provide the services and likely at substantial savings to taxpayers. Did the county even place an actual RFP out for bid before a contract was awarded? If not why? More importantly why was Clarici given another contract when he's already made-out like a bandit the last few years. What exactly is he holding over Jackson County's head to win these bids so easily? The BOC needs to re-evaluate this contact and do what is financially and morally right- issue a fair bid and select the most affordable and qualified bidder. Because at the rate their paying Clerici they could've just kept all the planning staff- it will probably end up cheaper for taxpayers of this County.
Sounds like all of this needs to be investigated, leave those hard working folks who were let go alone.
How do they sleep at night?
Clerici occupies an office building behind the Sheriff's Office, does Clerici pay for the building or does the county?
How can Clerici be a consulant for the County and also be a consulant for private developers doing business with the County? There seems to be a conflict of interest. Is this how business is conducted by the County?
employee that are in addition to the salary paid.
Jackson County laying off Planning and Development staff is par for the industry since little to no business is being conducted as a direct result of market conditions and significant reductions to local government revenues that paid their salaries. However, why should taxpayers pay more to hire a consuitant for 3 months when our County Manager is a former Community Planner and experienced Planning Director (check his resume). Why cant we rely on his expertise to re-organize the department and save that money we will be paying a consultant. Our County Manager is not an idiot. Give him the orders and he will follow through and do and admirable job. Yes he might grumble and complain along the way; but the job will get done right. Yes he already has a heavy work-load but in hard times government employees have to "work harder and be smarter" and "do more with less." That's what our elected/appointed leaders love to tell their underlings. So as my grandma would say "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." Besides our County Manager can say he earned every penny of his $100K plus salary. In this economy he and every other govenment employee should be happy they are staying employed.
There have always been shenanigans at that County, and usually when a Dept. Head is fired it has nothing to do with performance or ability or even so called budget problems. There is much more to meet the eye.
The fact that Darrell and some of the other BOC have been so in love with Clerici to keep giving him so much authority doesn't pass the smell test. He simply isn't qualified to be doing what he is doing.
Something smells, but it always does in Jackson County. All we can do is sit back and laugh.