Oh, my. Where to begin?
A recent post about a job opportunity with the Town of Christiansburg brought out quite a few comments. Now another job is being advertised -- in a local newspaper. Neither one, however; appears on the town's web site under the "job opportunities" link. Oh, my.
That web page states "To comply with Virginia Records Management Regulations, applications are only taken when there are positions open for which the applicant is applying. Applications are not kept on file for future employment opportunities." What about EEOC, VEC and FLSA regulations? Christiansburg doesn't keep a record of all applicants for each job in order to support challenges about fair hiring practices, nor maintain a database of applicants to cultivate a strong pool of candidates for all town positions? Oh, my.
The most recent help wanted ad states: "The Town of Christiansburg is accepting applications for a Cemeterian until 5 pm on Friday, Jan. 30. Starting salary $34,981/yr plus excellent benefits including sick/annual leave, medical and life insurance, retirement and paid holidays. Duties include operating backhoe and other industrial equipment, skills and expertise in tactfully and sensitively working with customers, and flexible work hours. Knowledge of bookkeeping, records management software, and grounds keeping equipment highly preferred. Valid driver's license, DMV transcript and pre-employment drug and alcohol testing required. EOE."
Shouldn't all town employees need to have clean driving records and be substance free? Why just the other day a town dump truck nearly ran over me in a 35 MPH zone, going about 45 (license ending 105L). These types of requirements weren't listed for the part-time Parking Enforcement Officer position. Oh, my.
Last Jan. 23rd, the town reportedly hired the first Cemeterian after assuming responsibility of Sunset Cemetery on Jan. 1, 2008. The final transfer of all cemetery assets just occurred at town council's Nov. 18 meeting, and this included a large number of new grave sites and significant perpetual care funds and other assets. Is business now simply booming and the vast inventory of unsold plots selling briskly? Oh, my.
Before the town's ownership, Council member Ann Carter had been pleading for years for the town to take over the cemetery operations. As an unpaid volunteer, she and the cemetery board had brought an insolvent corporation back to financial health -- yet a transition plan was needed to protect this town asset going forward. As a last ditch effort to protect the cemetery, even the Montgomery Museum considered taking it over but was constrained because funding of their part-time director position would need to become full-time. They simply didn't have the money without assistance from the town. The genealogy records were seen as only one historic asset the cemetery held, yet now word comes these have been neglected since the transition. Oh, my.
The job description requires heavy equipment operation. In the past, the Sunset trustees contracted with the town for these services, and paid for them in full. This was a net-zero cost then for the town. The software is a specialized database, and so finding someone with the people skills and appropriate computer or accounting background might be tough. Oh, my.
Ann, is there any chance you'd consider resigning from town council -- and that you can operate a backhoe? We hear the pay and benefits are good for your old job.