Resolution to Appoint Assistant Administrator Delayed

A resolution to appoint Jim Burnet to the newly created position of assistant borough administrator was removed from the Borough Council's agenda Monday night. However, the resolution will appear on the Sept. 13 agenda.

Also held was the introduction of an ordinance to abolish Burnet's current position of Main Street Executive director.

Mayor Mary-Anna Holden said the two resolutions were removed to make sure the council didn't move too fast in appointing the position and to gain a greater consensus prior to a vote.

The assistant administrator position, however, was officially created after a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Sam Cerciello casting the lone "no" vote. Cerciello said he was voting no because he felt the timing wasn't right, and that he didn't agree with creating a position which would pay a minimum of $95,000 while other public workers such as teachers, fire firefighters and police officers are being told to take pay freezes.

Other members of council countered by saying the position consolidated other eliminated positions and actually saves the borough money. Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto said that crunching the numbers after the consolidation of five positions shows even more would be saved than the $100,000 Borough Administrator Ray Codey previously suggested.

"If you look at the numbers this time, it's a net savings of $160,000," Tsukamoto said.

Councilman Don Links also supported the position's creation, saying it was consolidation and cost savings, and although the council does not enjoy it, it's something it must work toward.

"This is the first step," Links said.

Councilwoman Astri Baillie, who had previously abstained when the ordinance was introduced, voted yes this time.

"I want to put on the record, because we are canceling positions and saving money tonight, I'll be voting yes on this ordinance tonight," Baillie said.

The duties of the assistant borough administrator would be to serve as the recycling coordinator, assistant business administrator, a liaison to businesses, a mentor to the new position of part-time recreation director, actively seek out new, or expand upon existing shared service opportunities, and fill the need of a liaison to the county for the local welfare assistance program.

The removed resolution to appoint Burnet said he would make $95,000 in the new position. Burnet's current position of Main Street Executive Director, which will be abolished once someone is selected to take the assistant administrator position, was listed as a market value of $55,000, with a minimum salary of $46,750 and a maximum of $63,250.

Lisa Ellis, who works closely with Burnet as a member of the Downtown Development Commission, spoke up on his behalf at the meeting.

"Jim Burnet is one of the best things that has ever happened to Madison," said Ellis, who is also the Board of Education president. "Since day one, he has used his intelligence, passion and seemingly endless skill set to help transform the way Madison does business."

Burnet was unanimously selected for recommendation to the Borough Council by a four person committee following its interviews with three candidates late last week.

The committee was made up of Codey, Employee Resource and Purchasing/Personnel Officer Elizabeth Crescibene, Tsukamoto and Baillie.

Each of the applicants had their own meeting with the entire committee present.