The 2023 Public Works Department budget includes a new position in Parks Maintenance for an additional Maintenance Operator. Typically, we would await approval of the budget and implement this position in 2023. However, we have a long-term employee who no longer meets the requirements of a Maintenance Operator due to confidential health reasonings.

As a result, we created a new Maintenance Operator Assistant position that would be assigned to the Parks Division and would only operate light duty vehicles and equipment as assigned (see attached job description) and would take the place of the previously discussed Maintenance Operator position. This position would allow our long-term employee to remain with the department while also performing tasks that the department has a need for and the employee is able to complete.

The position will consist mainly of tasks that do not operate large or heavy department equipment. The Maintenance Operator Assistant would have different main responsibilities and equipment operation than our existing Maintenance Operator role, and we propose that the position be paid at $31.30 per hour. The recommended wage is less than a Maintenance Operator to account for the decrease in responsibilities and equipment operation. The current Maintenance Operator wage is $34.30 on the maximum end. We reviewed this new position for internal equity purposes, compared to similar positions in our ten comparable cities and had this information reviewed by an external compensation consultant. The recommendation from these efforts ranged from a $2-$5.40 per hour decrease from the Maintenance Operator position. The creation of this position is also subject to union acceptance and bargaining. Final wage considerations would be brought back to council for further consideration if needed.

The timing of this change and reassignment from the Streets and Utilities Division to the Parks Division is scheduled to take place mid-October 2022. We would then commence immediate recruitment to backfill the Maintenance Operator position (assigned to the Streets and Utilities Division), hoping to have it filled prior to the winter snow and ice control season.