Animal Control Officer Vacancy
DU~~E
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MEMORANDUM
April 11, 2006
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Animal Control Officer Vacancy
The City of Dubuque Animal Control Officer has resigned.
Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan has evaluated the vacant full-time position
and believes the City would be better served with the elimination of the 40 hours per
week full-time position and use the budgeted funds to provide up to 60 hours of
coverage with part-time positions.
I concur and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval of elimination of the
full-time animal control position.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
DU~~E
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MEMORANDUM
April 11, 2006
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, ~Aty~anager V
Mary Rose COrrigan~~,~~ealth Specialist
TO:
SUBJECT: Animal Control Officer Vacancy
INTRODUCTION
The Health Services Department Animal Control Officer, Susan Barnes, is resigning her
position effective April 14, 2006. This memorandum submits an evaluation of the
Animal Control activity and a recommendation for filling this position.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the Animal Control activity is served by one full-time Animal Control Officer
who works 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When
the Animal Control Officer is not in service, after hours, or when the Animal Control
Officer is sick or on vacation, the Police Department provides animal control coverage.
This coverage for when the Animal Control Officer is not working presents a challenge
to both the Health Services Department and the Police Department. Timely follow-up to
complaints, animal bites, and other animal incidents is often lacking when the Police
Department is busy or the Animal Control Officer is absent.
DISCUSSION
I have reviewed the Police Department animal "calls for service" report from the past
year. Animal calls for service remain consistently high from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 or 9:00
p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, but primarily Saturdays. Under the current
adopted FY 07 budget, 60 hours per week of animal control utilizing two part-time
employees could be achieved. Coverage for 60 hours a week would extend into the
evening to 7:00 p.m. and for a period of time on Saturdays, the busiest of the weekend
days. Two part-time employees working 30 hours a week each would provide 60 hours
of coverage and still stay within the employee budgeted amount. The supplies and
services budget for Animal Control would remain the same.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend eliminating the full-time Animal Control Officer position and replacing it
with two part-time positions who would work approximately 30 hours each per week.
The two part-time positions would allow for 60 hours per week of coverage versus the
current 40 hours per week coverage, and decrease the amount of time the Police
Department would have to provide animal control services.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Approve the recommendation to fill the current full-time Animal Control activity with two
part-time employees who would work a combined 60 hours per week.
MRC/cj
cc: Kim Wadding, Police Chief
Randy Peck, Human Services Manager
PT Animal Control Officer Salary Expenses based on 2 part-time at 30 hours per
week for 60 hours
30 hrs. er week
IPERS
Social Securi
Weekl Total
Uniform Ex ense
Workmen's Com .
Yearly Amount per
Em 10 ee
Total Employee
Expense for 2
em 10 ees
STEP B
529.80
30.47
40.53
600.80
175
524
31,940.60
63,881.20
ExamDle ODtional Hours:
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (includes 1 hour break) 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (M-S)
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (no break) OR
2 - 6 hour shifts or 30 hrs/wklemployee
FY 2007 Budget for one full-time employee = $65,120
4/12/06