Mayor John Lombardi III told the Common Council last week that he has not moved to fill seasonal positions because he thought it was too early.
At last week’s work session, Kevin Kirchberger, alderman at large and chair of the city’s highways, parks and water distribution committee, asked Lombardi about progress for seasonal workers to mow grass and perform other maintenance work. Kirchberger noted that a city public works employee would be retiring on May 19.
“What are the plans if no one fills the vacant positions?” Kirchberger asked. “When fire and police retire, we already plan for people to take that over.”
John Craig, 1st Ward alderman, also asked, “Can’t we hire seasonal workers for mowing?”
Lombardi became agitated and said, “Tell me how to do it! What are we supposed to do when no one applies?”
Marcus Wyche, 2nd Ward alderman, said, “If we went to a temp agency, they’d be happy to work with us.”
“I’ve never dealt with that,” Lombardi said, asking Wyche for the names of agencies. “We haven’t ever opened that up. I thought that would happen this week. I thought we had to wait another two or three weeks.”
“I thought we couldn’t get them until school is out,” Lombardi said. “I didn’t think we could hire seasonal until a certain time.”
Craig replied that the college semester finished last week.
In an interview on Monday, Kirchberger said, “Seasonal is anytime. We could have hired people back in March to start filling potholes. We were surprised that he didn’t know that. We talked about that a month and a half ago at a meeting.”
Wyche said he would provide a list to Lombardi of temporary agencies he had worked with previously. He confirmed Monday that he had spoken to Lombardi and provided the list.
“The most critical time of the year is here,” Kirchberger said.
“It’s a better deal somewhere else,” Lombardi said about posted positions remaining unfilled.
Kirchberger asked if the delay in hiring permanent staff had to do with union waiting times due to contractual opportunities for current employees to take vacant positions, but keep the option of returning to their previous jobs after 90 days.
“When they want to apply, aren’t they told they have to wait?” Kirchberger said.
Rowland O’Malley, 3rd Ward alderman and president of the council, confirmed the union rule.
“Ninety days later, they can be out of a job,” he said.