THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994 TAG: 9406280338
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940628 LENGTH: PORTSMOUTH
The cuts were recommended in an efficiency study by out-of-town consultants and presented to the council Monday. After questioning the city manager about how the cuts were decided and whether they would affect city services, the council gave the manager the go-ahead to make the cuts.
{REST} ``I don't think this is anything anyone will be happy about,'' Councilman John H. Epperson said. ``It's going to be up to the manager's decision.''
Earlier, 30 to 40 employees protested in a courtyard outside City Hall, saying they had not been given a chance to respond to the consultants' report.
``We want a chance to offer the City Council some alternatives to layoffs,'' said Carol Pratt, a video services manager. ``We're suggesting that they put together an employee committee to brainstorm and do research to come up with alternatives.''
But Councilman Bernard C. Griffin said they were too late.
City Manager V. Wayne Orton said the consultants' report indicates the city needs to eliminate about 50 mid- to upper-level positions. Because the city has 30 vacancies among the jobs being targeted, there likely will be fewer layoffs. The city's personnel director, Charlotte Fletcher, said employees who are laid off will receive two weeks' notice, 60 days' severance pay and assistance in finding new jobs.
Some of the employees who gathered in the courtyard referred to the study, which cost $48,000, as ``Orton's hit list.'' They said Orton had directed the consultant on where to make cuts. They also said they believe he has tampered with the report since its completion.
Orton called those charges unfortunate. ``It's not a hit list,'' he said. ``I think they'll see that's far from true. This administration has always been open and honest. We do have more employees than we need.''
Orton has said he has neither influenced the study, nor showed favoritism to any employee.
``It's a painful process for everybody,'' Councilman James C. Hawks said. ``We're trying to keep an open mind. I'd be receptive to any ideas about how we can be more efficient in service delivery and more conservative in use of taxpayers' money. But I need to start with the report itself. If there are bona fide alternatives, we'd give them full consideration.''
Epperson, who leaves office this week, said some employees have told him that the consultants had preconceived ideas about certain jobs when they evaluated positions
and interviewed employees last spring.
``I do want to know how the study was conducted, what studies were made and what questions were asked in interviewing, so I can determine whether this was a fair study or whether it was, as some have alluded, a hit list,'' Epperson said before Monday's meeting.
But after the meeting he said: ``I'm pretty much satisfied it was not a witch hunt.''
As employees began gathering in the courtyard, others lined up at City Hall's windows to watch the scene below.
``It looks like everyone is looking down saying thank you for having the nerve to say what we're afraid to say,'' said Sadona Lee, who works for the city's community services board. ``They don't realize they have freedom of speech. It's sad that they're afraid to come out.''
Vice Mayor Lee E. King said that allowing the employees to look at alternatives and offer their own suggestions about cuts would ``eliminate any doubt'' about the study.
``I will be asking for a copy of the original study,'' said King, who will leave office this week. ``If the manager's recommendations are different, then the council will have to regroup. I'll look at all of the things the employees are saying and evaluate it. People certainly have a lot of questions because their jobs are being threatened. Whatever they're saying may or may not be true, but their grievances will be looked at by City Council.''
Employees said Monday they just want the chance to offer input on ways to save money.
``Employees should be asked what they're willing to do,'' said Gwendolyn Davis, who serves as the city's liaison to the General Assembly in legislative issues affecting the city. ``We haven't been asked. There are a number of alternatives and cost-saving measures that are now being presented in other cities.''
Orton said employees could suggest alternatives through the city's employee-suggestion program, but that the study wasn't about just saving money, it's about cutting unnecessary jobs.
Some council members said layoffs may be totally up to the city manager. The manager has authority over personnel matters, including all issues involving hiring and firing employees.
After the closed-door session, Orton said that the council did not need to take any action.
``I have informed the council,'' Orton said. ``Now I can do what's best for the citizens.''
He declined to release any details of the plan until after employees are notified.
Carolyn Dennis, an employee in the city's public affairs department, said that if the city manager was truly working toward a leaner, more efficient government as he has said several times, then the layoffs should be based on job performance.
``This just makes it leaner,'' Dennis said. ``If they wanted better, more efficient government, if they wanted to be fair, they would have made cuts based on performance.''
Councilman Cameron C. Pitts said employees should have come forward earlier.
``I'm always looking at a better way to do it if possible, but I reckon one of the things that I've got a problem with is why was it (the protest) at the 11th hour?'' asked Cameron C. Pitts. ``Why didn't we get these suggestions earlier? Why not when the study was announced?''
by CNB