Pelham cuts three civic complex jobs

Published 4:09 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Pelham City Council on Monday voted 4-1 to cut three jobs at the Pelham Civic Complex in an effort to reorganize the venue.

The jobs eliminated were the general manager, the sales and marketing director and the rink manager. Council President Mike Dickens read in a resolution the civic complex lost nearly $1.5 million last year. The loss was absorbed by the city’s general fund.

Mayor Don Murphy will supervise the complex with no additional compensation effective immediately. The sales and marketing director and rink manager positions will be reassigned to other city employees.

Murphy expects the reorganization will save more than $230,000 in salaries and benefits.

Councilwoman Karyl Rice, who represents the sole dissenting vote, believes the rink manager’s position is not expendable since the job requires an extensive knowledge of maintenance equipment.

“I personally believe we do not have anybody on staff with that knowledge,” Rice said.

Murphy assured Rice there are service and maintenance employees who are knowledgeable of the equipment.