AGENDA #14
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
George Small, Engineering Director Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager |
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SUBJECT: |
Proposal for Changes to Staffing Levels for Traffic Engineering Program in Engineering Department/FY 2007-08 Budget Year |
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DATE: |
April 18, 2007 |
This memorandum provides information regarding proposed changes in staffing and organization in Traffic Division of the Engineering Department.
The costs associated with implementation of the proposed changes would be covered by reallocation of vacant position funds supplemented by revenue from traffic related fees charged by the Engineering Department. The proposed changes would have no direct impact on the General Fund.
The Traffic Division of the Town Engineering Department involves engineering, operating, and maintenance responsibilities associated with traffic signals, signs and markings, special measures (such as traffic calming), traffic impact analysis, congestion management, and work zone traffic control.
The current Traffic Division organizational structure includes the following positions:
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3-Traffic Signal Technicians |
1-Traffic Engineer/Engineering Services Manager |
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1-Traffic Program Supervisor (vacant) |
3-Signs and Marking Technicians |
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1- Traffic Operations Engineer |
1-Engineering Technician |
The Engineering Department implemented a fee-based permit program in 2005 to manage work-zone lane and street closures for construction within public rights-of-way. Revenue from this permit program has increased each year since its inception. Much of this revenue is associated with University and OWASA related construction projects.
This permit program requires that Engineering Department staff regularly inspect all permitted lane and street closures on a daily basis to ensure that that the approved work zone traffic control plan is properly implemented in accordance with Town standards and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This work has had a significant impact on available staff time in the Department.
Also, with the transfer last year of the traffic signals and signs and markings sections from the Public Works Department to the Engineering Department, our total department staff increased by approximately 50 percent. The increases in staffing and responsibilities resulted in associated increases in requests-for-assistance from citizens and other departments and in clerical and administrative work. The Engineering Department has only one administrative position to manage this increasing work load.
Currently, the Traffic Program Supervisor position is vacant and we have re-assigned those duties and responsibilities to the Traffic Operations Engineer and to the senior traffic signal technician and the senior signs/marking technician. This has resulted in the following positive outcomes:
Eliminated a redundant supervisory level between the Technicians and the Traffic Operations Engineer.
Provided more direct input by the Traffic Operations Engineer into the daily work of the traffic operations and maintenance programs, resulting in more effective and efficient provision of services.
Based on our experience with this organizational arrangement, we propose replacing the now vacant Traffic Program Supervisor position and with the following positions:
Traffic Signal Technician: This position will help us fulfill our obligations to the State for providing NCDOT Level of Service C for traffic signal operations in Chapel Hill and Carrboro; and will also provide assistance with the administration of the Town’s street lighting program. The Level of Service C for traffic signal operations requires implementation of a Comprehensive Preventive and Bench Maintenance Program to ensure optimum operation of the traffic signal system. The additional technician position is needed to effectively perform the required traffic signal maintenance work.
Administrative Technician: This position will assist the Department Office Manager with clerical and administrative work, tracking responses to work orders and requests-for-assistance, and general record and file maintenance activities.
To offset the cost of the proposed re-organization and additional positions, we propose re-allocation of the currently budgeted Traffic Program Supervisor salary supplemented as necessary with Engineering Department revenues from Work Zone Traffic Control Permit fees and traffic signal operation and maintenance reimbursements received from Carrboro in accordance with our inter-local agreement.
Details of the cost of the proposed changes are provided in Attachment 1.
We recommend elimination of the current Traffic Program Supervisor position and in its place the addition of one Traffic Signal Technician position and one Administrative Technician position in the Engineering Department.