Sunday, April 14, 2013

Clatsop County To Reorganize/Streamline Administrative Operations

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION SAVES MONEY, STREAMLINES OPERATIONS A planned reorganization of some administrative offices proposed by Clatsop County Manager Scott Somers will save money while increasing efficiency, he said. On Wednesday the county Board of Commissioners held the first reading of an ordinance enacting the plan. A final vote is scheduled for April 24. The plan was prompted by the move in December of former Assistant County Manager Nicole Williams to the County Clerk position, and the departure of former Central Services Department Director Mike Robison in March. With two positions vacant, Somers looked at ways to streamline the county’s administrative functions by “flattening out” the chain of command while trimming spending in the face of looming cost increases in retirement and benefits for county staff. The plan is projected to save the county $265,704 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Under the new plan, the Assistant County Manager and Central Services Director positions are eliminated. Two of the functions currently under Central Services will moved – Information Systems to the County Manager’s Office, and Building and Grounds to the Public Works Department. Central Services will be renamed the Budget and Finance Department and will focus on budget preparation and oversight, banking, payroll, revenue and expenditure monitoring and other fiscal duties. The County Manager’s Office, which currently oversees Emergency Management and Human Resources, will become the Administrative Services Department. The county Assessment and Taxation Department, which since 2010 was overseen by Robison, will again have its own director. The county will seek applicants for both the Budget and Finance director and Assessment and Taxation director positions. -30- Released by: Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 338-3622