Macomb’s community development office would like to add a full-time position to help it deal with a heavy workload. But for now, the city council is saying “no.”
The proposal from Community Development Director Cesar Suarez called for adding a planning and development specialist.
He said the department has been busy and keeps adding more responsibilities.
But Macomb City Township Assessor Glenda Bryan, addressing the council as a citizen, said the proposed new position duplicates the community development director’s job and is not needed.
“The overlap is overwhelming and it’s not partial, not occasional, and it’s practically identical. What will be left for the director to do?” she asked.
“Every dollar spent on a redundant position such as this is a dollar that doesn’t go back to things in our community that we need most — safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, better infrastructure.”
She said rejecting the position would not be a vote against progress but rather a vote for responsible leadership.
In response to her claim about redundancy, Suarez said the department is trying to cross-train all of its employees.
“It’s really important because when one person leaves, someone has to fill in that position, and there’s always activity,” Suarez said. “I’m learning how to do residential development and business inspections, residential inspections, and all sorts of things.”
He also said development of the city’s new comprehensive plan will be “a big, heavy load” for his office. He said it will involve a great deal of community engagement, planning, and data analysis, and that more staff is needed.
City Administrator Scott Coker agreed that the office is busy, citing the comprehensive plan and implementation of the business development district and a new business registration program.
Coker also said the proposed new position is meant to be similar to the director’s job.
“Because this person acts as a backup directly for the director when the director’s not there,” Coker said.
City council member Dave Dorsett said he supports the office’s work, but he was not convinced this is the right time to add the position.
“The entire department, in my mind, is in flux. With all due respect to Mr. Suarez, he’s been here for about three months and he’s still learning the ropes,” Dorsett said.
The city council voted 4-to-3 to reject a motion for adding the position. Jennifer Hemingway, Ashley Katz, and Don Wynn joined Dorsett in voting against it.
Council members Justin Schuch, John Vigezzi, and Byron Shabazz voted in favor of it.
Schuch said he’s been on the council for three years, and said one of the things he’s heard most from residents is a desire for the community development office to be more responsive.
Schuch said previous community development directors also had a lot of responsibilities, and that adding the new position could ease the burden and help build the office.
“I think now is the best time to do that (add the position) while we have new leadership, to bring on someone new to redefine what this office does completely,” Schuch said.
He also pointed out that the position is in the new city budget that was approved by the city council last month.
The city council on Monday was also asked to approve a position to help the city attorney’s office handle Freedom of Information Act requests.
The council voted unanimously in favor of creating that part-time job.
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