Two employees who were told to hit the bricks last month as Orion Township looked for ways to reduce a million-dollar budget shortfall will keep their jobs after all’at least for now.
Lay-offs for four others become official Oct. 28, and a seventh employee is appealing through the union.
In the meantime, Township Supervisor Matt Gibb asked the board for approval to create a job description and hire a ‘supervisor’s assistant? at an annual $42,663.46, plus benefits.
The board’s agreement was unanimous.
The new hire, Gibb said, will handle responsibilities like central purchasing, requests for proposals and management of related matters.
‘That certainly could fall on my shoulders and I’m glad to take on the task,? he said. ‘But I’m asking the board to’provide a little bit of help. We are loosing a lot of able talent through this (staff reduction) process.?
The supervisor’s assistant would also serve as a site liaison for general contract administration, work with consultants and play a role in upcoming township project like an construction of an amphitheatre and a project to move the Howarth Schoolhouse to Friendship Park.
And, Gibb continued, the new hire would also work as his liaison to the Safety Path advisory group as well as the Parks and Recreation advisory.
‘This person would have a substantive role as a liaison and taskmaster to get things accomplished,? Gibb said. ‘There’s a lot that hasn’t been getting done for a long time.?
Although the board went behind closed doors to discuss personnel issues before Monday’s meeting, Trustee John Steimel made the official motion to rescind the layoff notices for a custodial groundskeeper and a part-time Parks and Recreation programmer.
‘I made the motion on good faith,? he said. ‘I hope when we review the budget in a week or so, we’re going to see where we have savings elsewhere and can afford these positions.?
Gibb said he thought retaining the employees was important.
‘We realized we needed a programmer to get kiddy sports done,? Gibb said. ‘Things like Boo Bash and Summer Sizzle. We have hundreds of families that participate in those programs.?