It's been nearly two years since the Thursday Night Massacre, when the lives of six families were turned upside down by the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors. On Aug. 21, 2008, four supervisors fired six employees at the recommendation of Dhillon Management Services, a consulting agency hired to evaluate township operations. Matt Dhillon, from Fullerton, Calif. wrote in his 62-page final report that township residents would benefit financially and with more efficient services if his suggestions were followed.
He stated the report would be painful. "Sometimes observations made by an objective third party can be difficult to endure since we all try to do our best at our jobs, but these observations are necessary to achieve improvement and growth," he wrote. He defined $517,000 in annual savings plus a one-time cost of $42,500 if his findings were accepted.
And so Curtis Myers, Fred Young III, Rick Baer and Samuel Miller terminated six key employees, though the recommendation was eight. Another employee resigned shortly before the pivotal meeting. The following February the board hired an administrator. He replaced the fired manager, with the job responsibilities shifted slightly. For the balance of 2009 the township operated with 16 employees instead of 22, more than Dhillon's recommended staffing level of 14.
How'd he do?
Has time proven that Dhillon's recommendations were accurate? Has the township saved the money from his specific cost-cutting measures? Have township services been provided to the same or better standards than before?
The Echo Pilot asked township personnel for their viewpoint on the results. In March chairman Baer refused to sit down for an interview on the reorganization. Administrator Brad Graham offered to help provide information on the township's perspective post-Dhillon. Baer had agreed to review written questions and the two would find the answers together. A list of questions was submitted in early April. No response has been returned. Dhillon also did not respond to an e-mail asking for his opinion on ramifications of his report.
A simple analysis of Antrim Township was undertaken by the Echo Pilot, reviewing distinct Dhillon recommendations and looking at actions taken by the supervisors. Dhillon's complete report, supporting his reasons for certain opinions, has never been fully released to the public despite extensive efforts by the Echo Pilot to have the information released.
Staffing levels
Dhillon's most dramatic recommendation was to adjust the staffing level by eight people, over one-third of the workforce, stating those positions "can and should be eliminated." He cited examples of people underworked in every department, leading to an excess of employees. A new compacted workforce would position Antrim to deliver services effectively right away and in the future. "Not only are the reduced staffing levels appropriate today," he wrote, "but the recommended staffing level and structure will fulfill any and all needs over the next five to 10 years."
Antrim has struggled to maintain services with its remaining employees. In the summer of 2009 and again in 2010, it hired three seasonal employees to do office work, mow, assist the road crew and perform other manual labor. The positions were parttime, up to 32 hours, with no benefits.
Dhillon said three supervisory positions — roadmaster, utilities director and superintendent — "can and should be handled by one position functioning as a maintenance superintendent and capital projects manager." He urged the board to consider and possibly accept that the three people in those positions were not qualified to take on the new title. The three were fired and supervisors promoted a road laborer to roadmaster/utilities superintendent. He garnered over $10,000 in overtime in 2009. He resigned in February 2010.
The supervisors redesigned the position and advertised for a public works director. Applications were due May 21.
Dhillon had not seen the value of a utilities director as the job was defined in 2008 and earlier. He found several downsides to the set-up. "The director almost seems to function somewhat independently of and parallel to daily operations (because) the office is several miles from the treatment plant and subordinate staff. This is a common mistake in local government. (It) results in a natural disconnect from daily operations," he wrote in the report.
The responsibilities for the new public works director are more office-based than was the roadmaster/utilities superintendent's job, but will require considerable fieldwork, Graham said two weeks ago. He is processing eight applications. If none of the candidates are acceptble, he will readvertise the position.
The supervisors said the new person would be in charge of roads, utilities and parks.
The consultant found that the administrative secretary performed unnecessary duties and the billing clerk's job required only 25 percent of one person's time, so both positions should be eliminated. Instead, the supervisors fired the financial secretary.
Dhillon assessed that the road crew was also overstaffed, so the supervisors cut it from five to four people. The crew could not keep up with the workload. After months of discussion and funding a fifth position in the 2010 budget, on March 9 the supervisors authorized Graham to hire another laborer. He received 44 resumes and the board hired someone June 8. Antrim did not call back either of the two road crew people who were fired.
While Dhillon did not recommend the board fire the township manager in 2008, he said at the public meeting Aug. 21 that he offered opinions on the post. His analysis was partially redacted in the document made available to citizens. He did write, "perhaps the township can and would be better served under a manager with dual experience, expertise and background. (It) could be manager/finance director, manager/planning director, or manager/township engineer." Graham's title became administrator/utilities director.
