Augusta department heads won’t be required to punch a location-based time clock after all.
A city committee took no action on the idea Tuesday despite several commissioners’ concerns about senior staff members taking unannounced, lengthy vacations or working outside the office.
Commissioner Brandon Garrett suggested the requirement, for non-elected department heads. Most report directly to the commission, rather than the administrator, while some are housed in locations other than Augusta Municipal Building.
“If there was some sort of reporting mechanism that would help us know who’s available when certain things arise,” it might ensure key staff were present when needed, he said.
Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse said her office tracks time off requests and sick time. She said she could provide a calendar to the commission stating who is off, preferably on a monthly basis.
Commissioner Bobby Williams said he’d been one of those senior staff members.
“As they say on the Beverly Hillbillies, how to decipher this?” Williams said.
“What we need to realize is that if we have these people start clocking in, we’d probably not get the type of work out of them that we do now,” he said.
When Commissioner Francine Scott, who chairs the city Administrative Services committee, tried to give the floor to Commissioner Alvin Mason, Williams refused to yield.
“I’ve got one more question. I’ve got one more question. I’ve got one more question,” Williams said, speaking over Scott’s voice. “I’m not going to give up the floor. I’ve got one more question, and I’m going to ask that question.”
Mason said punching a clock likely isn’t the proper solution.
“I don’t think that’s the real discussion for today, but I’m certainly open to help improve our effectiveness and efficiency,” Mason said. “And so if we actually see some things that could be improved upon, then let’s have that conversation.”
Commissioner Sean Frantom said employees should be required to enter their leave requests in the ADP system Augusta uses, and “cut out the middle man” rather than have other staffers do it.
In another matter, a consultant for Springfield Baptist Church requested a meeting with city officials to address access issues church members have when large events are held downtown.
