Wakefield City Council begins 2018-19 budget talks

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - Wakefield City Council members began parsing details of the city's 2018-'19 budget at a Thursday workshop in which they also discussed how to evaluate city manager Richard Brackney.

Mayor John Granato said the formal evaluation of Brackney will be at an as yet unscheduled public session, but stressed the importance of choosing a "consistent" means of considering criteria in advance.

"In the past, we've handed out a questionnaire to each council member," said council member Pat Mann.

She and Brackney provided council members with sample evaluations, from which they chose one form that they agreed, in Mann's words, "covered the basics."

They also discussed the importance of what Brackney phrased "a policy of succession," whereby city staff are equipped to handle emergencies even when the city manager is not available to provide direction.

"I just want to know where he is that we can get a hold of him," said council member Kay Wiita.

Council member Amy Tarro said lack of cell service is just one obstacle to communication.

"I think we need a backup plan," said Mann, who suggested that an appropriate city staff member be designated as "acting city manager."

Granato said any such person would have to be non-union. "They have to have the ability to discipline and take the responsibility he normally would," he said of anyone acting on Brackney's behalf.

Granato said he will place the issue on the agenda for the next city council meeting so council members can discuss it further and decide upon the best action.

In relation to budget concerns for the coming fiscal year, council members decided they will need more time to review the materials.

They did, however, begin to address concerns about the 30-year-old public deck next to the Wakefield Visitors and Information Center.

In previous meetings, council members had discussed the viability of removing the deck, so as to see more clearly what needs to be done.

On Thursday, they backed off from that approach and leaned toward a more conservative view.

Granato said he has contacted a couple of engineering firms he hopes can provide a preliminary assessment before the deck is dismantled.

"What I'm not in favor of is ripping that out and not having a plan," he said.

Brackney agreed, adding the deck is "on hold for now." He said the city is still hoping for outside funding assistance, but will not seek it until costs are determined.

"I'm not going to tear the deck off until we have a plan," he said, adding, "People can still use it this spring."

Tarro and Mann expressed concern about the integrity of the structure.

"When we had that flood (2002), it lifted up that deck from the footings," said Mann.

"This is something that needs to be taken care of," said Tarro, asking whether grant money might be another possible funding source.

Brackney said city employees built the deck in 1988 with funding from the Department of Natural Resources.

Granato said current grant options for the deck could be checked and that he hoped to have more information at the next council meeting.

According to Brackney's previous reports, the deck's centerpiece statue of Nee-Gaw-Nee-Gaw-Bow also is in funding limbo.

He said the statue, which is independent of the deck, will require about $50,000 to repair or replace it, and will be addressed separately from the deck.

Brackney concluded the 2018-'19 budget must be approved by June because the new fiscal year starts July 1.

The city council will meet next on April 24 at 5:30 p.m.

The council also will have another workshop to address the city budget on April 30 at 10 a.m.