Oneonta continues with employment/personnel issues

The Oneonta City Council placed additional responsibility on its firefighters to pay the city should they obtain training at city expense and soon move to another city’s department. Councilors approved an employment contract, which requires firefighters to remain with the city two years or pay the city for training they have received at city expense.

City attorney Alex Smith explained that the state already permits municipalities the right to recover such expenses from any other municipality that hires firefighters under such circumstances. Fire chief David Osborne sought the contract, noting the city pays a significant sum to train its fighters. The contract provides an additional level for recovery and, perhaps, an additional incentive for firefighters to remain with the city longer.

With his father Mark abstaining on the vote, the council named Andrew Gargus as a volunteer firefighter. Gargus is pursuing training toward a career in the field.

In other personnel issues, the council hired Sylvia Guzman as a part-time circulation clerk for the public library. Members voted to advertise in house for a park and recreation supervisor. That position will assist director David Elliott in operations and maintenance within the department. [In-house advertisements permit current city employees a first opportunity for consideration on municipal positions.]

Related to those personnel matters, the council also named Marla Smith to its park and recreation board. Smith assumes the term of Lee Rhudy, who had resigned his position.

Councilman Ross Norris announced completion of 11 miles of paving the city had undertaken during the year. Councilors decided to pave almost four miles more than planned due to reduced costs for the work.

Councilman Hal Buckelew missed the June 23 meeting. All other council members (Gargus, Norris, Tim McNair, Danny Robinson, and Mayor Darryl Ray) attended. The council holds its regular meetings the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. in city hall.