Middle’s Department Heads: More Personnel Are Needed

COURT HOUSE – Deputy Mayor Jeffrey DeVico has long pushed for more meetings of the Middle Township Committee, in which the three members could discuss, and even debate, policy. 
Sunshine laws place restrictions on any gathering of the three-member committee outside of a publically-announced meeting.
One of DeVico’s concerns was having all three members of the governing body hear reports and updates from the township’s department heads. He got his wish Sept. 18.
The presentations were new to the department heads. Most fell back on an outline of their department’s functions. It was a beginning of what DeVico hopes will be a periodic process.
Even the somewhat plain presentations brought home a message that has potentially significant impact on municipal planning and budgeting. Almost every department made a case for being understaffed.
Emergency Medical Services Chief Sean McDevitt said his department needs to double its full-time staff from five to 10 while also improving its ambulance and facility environment.
Currently the township does not own its ambulances or the facilities the EMS staff uses, McDevitt said.
Public Works Director Robert Flynn and Recreation Superintendent Robert Matthews both spoke of staffing needs. Matthews argued that Middle Township was significantly behind in the type and quality of recreation space when compared to Lower Township.
Assessor Lee Ann Russ had her case made for her as DeVico made the point that an additional staff member in her department would speed initial assessments getting properties on the rolls faster.
Zoning Officer David May spoke of coming in early every day to get uninterrupted time for travel around the township inspecting violations. Staffing and space needs impact the office’s enforcement functions.
Township Clerk Kimberley Krauss appended a series of statistics to her presentation. Those statistics showed the growing demand for service in the Clerk’s Office.
What the presentations brought to the service for the public was a series of competing needs that could press on the township’s $21-million budget.
The municipal purpose tax levy for 2017 is almost $13 million, and it includes a 5 percent increase in the tax rate.
In recent budgets, priority was placed on getting the police department back to its staffing high point before the 2008 financial crisis. That has been accomplished.
The township budget currently allocates 136 budgeted, full-time positions and 96 part-time positions across all departments.
Middle Township is the county’s largest municipality in area and its second largest in population. It has two business hubs in Court House and Rio Grande.
Krauss’ presentation showed licensing for 13 township campgrounds, nine gravel pits, 15 motels and 14 mobile home parks.
Nancy Sittineri, economic development coordinator, said that her numbers show a township population of 18,911.
It is an environment with a growing senior population reflected in part in a wide variety of senior center programs supporting 128 registered members with a staff of one full-time and one part-time.
It has a drug problem which the township is responding to with options other than just enforcement.
Community policing techniques have benefits, but they are also manpower intensive.
Sittineri cited housing costs as a principal barrier to development. Russ cited an estimated $21-million increase in ratables with a 99.2 percent tax collection rate. Housing costs can be a barrier to young families settling in the township, but they can also raise the tax base.
Sittineri pressed the committee to set priorities for economic development.
At the end of 90 minutes of presentations, DeVico called for other sessions, ones in which there could be time for more give-and-take with the committee and less show-and-tell by the department heads. He noted that such sessions would be useful as the township moves to plan its next budget, but he also called for using the information to plan “five years ahead.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.