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One of East Ridge City Manager William Whitson’s top 10 goals his first year in office is to reorganize the city’s staff so it’s geared to bring about citywide change.
“You can’t do the same old thing and expect different results,” Whitson said. “If you’re being asked to do something new, you can’t take an old organization and do that.”
Whitson will create positions and entities the city has never had, including an economic development director and a biodiesel program, the two changes he said he’s most excited about.
Other staff changes will streamline the city’s everyday operations and make them more efficient.
For example, the city changed its method of garbage pickup from four-person, manual pickup to one-person, automatic pickup.
While 12 garbage collectors have been let go, Whitson said four drivers were hired.
As the city phases out its maintenance garage, four positions will be eliminated, but one will be created, he said.
Whitson recently held an internal job fair for people whose positions were affected by the changes.
Some of these people opted to retire, but 11 internal applicants will apply for the city’s nine new positions.
“The reorganization is going well and as planned,” said Whitson. “While I deeply regret the loss of staff, unlike other employers we are offering a severance package.”
Eliminated employees will get three months’ pay, time with a resume and career consultant and up to six months of health benefits for those who have a gap in insurance coverage.
Whitson said as the summer wears on, the city will begin searches for an executive secretary and the economic development director.
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