GDPUD workshop delves into job description

The agenda for the Feb. 14 workshop included five items, but it was all the board of directors of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District could do to get through just one of them — namely, the job description and salary schedule for the business and finance manager.

That item was originally on the agenda for Tuesday’s regular board meeting but was kicked over to the workshop for additional discussion.

With Norm Krizl absent and Kathy Otermat arriving at the end of the workshop, the remaining board members delved into the job description with resident Dale Miller frequently adding comments.

Variously discussed was whether or not a CPA was needed in the position, if the salary schedule should have five or seven steps, what credentials the person needed, the additional duties the person might have to assume, if the salary was too high or too low, if the person would assist or direct, whether the merit steps were too high or too low, whether the district could hire locally or would have to pay extra to a person driving from out the area, and what highway would be the best one for them to take to the job.

Board president Bonnie McLane said there might be someone without a “sheepskin” who could do the job, noting that she had been denied jobs because of her lack of academic credentials. Board member Maria Capraun suggested that the “stone age software” in the office impinged on their decisions and hinted there might be someone locally who was suitable for the job.

McLane said that being able to work on the divide would be an attraction, overlooking the fact that one of the reasons the last business and finance manager retired was because of the hostile way she was treated by some members of the board and the community.

General Manager Hank White drafted the original duty statement. While being the one the business and finance manager reports to, and knowing the scope and duties of the position, it was the board, not White, calling the shots.

With time running out, the board decided to bring the revised document back to the next workshop for further discussion.

On another matter, resident Dennis Goodenow suggested language changes to a different policy governing board behavior saying that the original material was of poor quality and focused on avoiding bad behavior rather than encouraging excellence. It should “uplift instead of degrade,” he said.

Goodenow went on to point out that many of the policies the board was trying to develop were already codified in state law.

“But we want to put them all in a central location,” said Capraun.

Board member Ray Griffiths also agreed to work separately with the ditch workers on a ditch maintenance policy that he will bring back to the board.

The next GDPUD workshop will be on Feb. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the district headquarters. The board plans to discuss the vehicle use policy.

Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.