March 28, 2024

New title, same role

Council names Bartello as city administrator/chief of police

After several months of filling the seat of interim city manager, Joe Bartello can officially drop interim off his title.

During the June 13 city council meeting, the city council unanimously approved 5-0 to change Bartello’s title from interim city manager to city administrator. Under this action, the chief of police will continue to serve the dual position for six more months, after which the role will, yet again, be re-evaluated.

“I’m going to need new business cards,” the city administrator said with a smile.

Bartello has served the dual role of interim city manager and police chief since July 2017. Bartello filled the position as part of city hall’s decision to restructure its staff following the resignation of former city administrator Lori Martin in May 2017.

Also as part of the staff restructure, billing clerk Emily Voeller was promoted to assistant city clerk and police officer Mike German was promoted to sergeant. The city also hired an additional full-time officer.

City leaders said while the current structure of the administrative staff is able to accommodate Prairie City’s present needs, they are concerned city hall will be spread too thin if or when the city experiences substantial growth.

“This is not a vote of non-confidence against (Bartello). I look at this position that the chief of police is a 60 percent position. I look at the city manager spot, it is probably a 60 to 70 percent position. In the future, when we look at growth and stuff like that, will that city management position grow and the police department suffer?” city councilman John Lee said. “As a business sense, those positions have to be split apart or at least interview and see what we have out there for candidates ... I think it is too big for one person.”

Bartello said at Prairie City’s current rate of growth, his dual position is close to the spot where it would need to be split back into two separate positions. To help retain the city’s flexibility with the position while adding stability to the job, Bartello proposed the council consider a yearly contract for the dual position prior the council’s vote.

“Each year we can reassess and determine if that position has grown beyond what I can handle. I don’t think for a second I would have a hard time saying if I am over worked,” Bartello said. “As an employee, especially going through some life changes – I am having a baby on the way – having some structure in place, I would appreciate ... making it month to month makes it kind of difficult to make some structural plans for me personally.”

Since the council approved the initial 90-day “trial-run” last July, city leaders have been mulling their decision on how they would like to fill the city administrator position. Before the June 13 meeting, the council approved a 90-day extension in November, a 30-day extension in February and another 90-day extension in March.

“This is so complicated because (Alleger) is your boss for the police part. We are your boss for the city manager piece of it. I wouldn’t want to go into a contract because I think that would complicate things more,” councilwoman Dianne Taylor said. “I don’t like the word permanent for any job.”

Alleger said in the current structuring of the administrative staff, the city does not have enough funds to support separating the positions to their full capacities.

“Quite frankly, if we wanted to find the money, there is money there,” Taylor said. “What frustrated me last year was that we actually had people send resumes in. We didn’t talk to them because looking at their resumes, they would want too much money.”

Lee voted in favor of the six-month extension on the condition that city staff revisit the expectations and duties of the city administrator. The council agreed to Lee’s stipulation.

“I think we are kicking the can down the road. I have no problem with the dual role thing, it is just I think in the very short term, we got to look at something different,” Lee said. “Whether Joe comes in at a full position, I wouldn’t have a problem with that either, or either way around, but at some point in time, this has to be addressed.”

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@myprairiecitynews.com