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PAGE 6, MAY 31, 2010, THE ISLANDER City personnel Continued from Page 1 be reduced by two more to 65 sworn officers. In addition, three of the five depart- men captains will receive a reduction in rank and pay. Two of the captains, the second high est rank in the department, will be offered positions as lieutenants, while a third, who has been with the depart ment about 33 years and has a college degree, will be offered a position as a corporal. Roberts explained that some divi sions were being combined to reduce the need for captains. Roberts said, "We were instructed to make the police department less top heavy, so we're going from five captains to two. The professional standards unit, which was headed by a captain, will now come under the special services division’s captain and by supervised by a lieutenant. The other captain will be over field services. The department will have six lieutenants and nine ser geants. Eight of the sergeants positions are currently filled.” Effective on July 9, the police cap tains who take the reduction in rank and pay will be paid at the top of the pay scale for their new, lower rank. The police department’s planning and research coordinator has accepted a job at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and that job will not be filled. Also the police department’s admin istrative assistant’s position has been eliminated with that employee being offered a records clerk position at less pay- Asked to comment on the changes in the police department, Mayor Brian Thompson said, “Police Chief (Edna) Johnson knows the department better than anyone, it was her decision and the commission has full trust in her judgement. We stayed out of the pro cess. We only told her to do what she thought was best to get the best balance and organization in the department.” Other city departments that will see employee cutbacks are: • Director’s position will be cut from Economic Development; • one position will be cut from Human Resources; • one position will be cut from the Finance department; • one position will be cut from Infor mation Technology; • three positions will be cut from Public Works; • three positions will be cut from Parks and Recreation; • two positions, an inspector and a permit technician, will be cut from the Building Inspection department. In other department restructuring, the Parks Maintenance Division, which has 13 employees, will be combined with the Cemetery Maintenance Divi sion, which has seven. The total number of employees in the combined department will be reduced from 20 to 14. The 13 parks mainte nance employees will be able to apply for the seven available jobs, while the cemetery workers will not be impacted. Roberts said that the personnel bud get cuts would affect the city legal department, but as of Wednesday, May 26 she did not know how or to what extent. With a budget of over $300,000 for last year, including $162,000 per year for the city attorney alone, the three- person legal department has one of the city’s highest per employee cost ratios. As a comparison, Glynn County, which has about four or five times the population of the city, pays their attor ney about $90,000 per year. About six months ago, the Board of REAL ESTATE and YOU By Susan Hardwick ^realtyinc.O' • St. Simons Island ABR, CRS, E-PRO, GRI Service • Commitment • Results TIME FOR TAPS Each year at this time when we celebrate Memorial Day, we know its the annual observance of Taps at Twilight, sponsored by the St. Simons Island Rotary Club. This year’s event, Monday May 31 at 7 p.m., is open to the public and will be held at the Neptune Park bandstand on St. Simons. Sam Nunn, a former U.S. Senator from Georgia (1972-1997), will be guest speaker. Guest of honor will be Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. USMC, Ret., Medal of Honor recipient. St. Simons Rotarians have sponsored this event for the past 19 years. Opening music will be presented by the Golden Isles Community Concert Band. Rotary club president, Brooke Pridmore, will welcome guests; the posting of the colors and the National Anthem will be sung. The always- inspiring Armed Forces medley will follow - all service members and their families will stand to be recognized. Following Sam Nunn’s address, Rhonda Hambright will sing God Bless America. The retirement of the colors by the U.S. Marine Corps Security Force and the USMC, JROTC, Glynn Academy will be next. Concluding the program, Taps will be presented by trumpeters, William A. Hammett and Rich Wanger and Tim Akins, bagpiper. Pat Storino is event chairman; Gerald Schueneman, co-chairman; Calvin Paynter, is chairman emeritus. For the best in professional service contact Susan Hardwick, 638-6660 office,- or 1-877-638-6660, Ext. 625. 638-8782 home, 912-222-0392 mobile; e-mail: susanhardwick@bellsouth.net,web: www.seapalmsrealty.com Education stopped paying their con tract attorney on an hourly basis and switched to a monthly retainer of $6,000 per month, $72,000 per year. The state attorney general makes just over $137,000 per year. And Governor Perdue makes just over $139,000. Roberts said that with only two employees, the personnel cuts would not affect the City Clerk’s office. Roberts did not know if there would be an impact on the Municipal Court. As far as Community Development, Roberts said there has been no conver sation about their budget. But, according to Assistant Manager William Weeks, who oversees Commu nity Development, that department is not funded by the General Fund. They are a separately funded department. Asked about the impact on the employees pension, Roberts said it could be affected. Pension is calculated on the five highest salary years of the last ten years. Roberts said she expected all affect ed employees to be notified by Friday, May 28. Roberts also said that due to the economy all city promotions were fro zen about six months ago. The city enacted a two-day per month furlough program back in September for all departments except the fire depart ment. The furlough does apply to fire department administrative personnel, which includes the fire chief and two other employees. Incentive pay was eliminated from the city budget last year. Roberts also said the city govern ment efficiency study currently under way by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government may McIntosh Shouters receive $3,000 grant The McIntosh County Shouters received a $3,000 grant from Plum Creek to support the costs associated with its Education-in-Schools program for Georgia schools. The Shouters promote and encourage cross cultural understanding through the teachings of Gullah Geechee history and the ring shout, a tradition handed down from generation to generation. The practice was started by slaves in Georgia. When they would come home after a hard day’s work in the plantation, they would get together and perform the ring shout—grateful they made it through another day. They also utilized the ring shout as a means of communication while working in the fields. The Shouters are the last authentic practitioners of this art form. The group is dedicated to educating and enter taining adults and children about this piece of African American and Georgia history. On May 11, the McIntosh Comity Shouters received the 2010 Governor’s Award in the Humanities. They will participate in Georgia Historical Soci ety’s “Gullah Geechee History and Cul ture in the Georgia Low Country” sum mer workshop, as well as in several area elementary and middle schools during the next school year. For information visit mcintoshcoun- tyshouters.com. □ impact the city’s personnel. Roberts said depending on the results of the study it could lead either to more layoffs or positions being added back. □ Islander Advertise here! Call 265-9654 for details! 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