Councilor Gilbert recently advanced, and then withdrew, a resolution to prevent any layoffs within city government. One can understand that the good councilor might be interested in the welfare of city employees. This is a good thing. However, one must wonder what Mr. Gilbert was thinking to bring forth such a resolution in the first place. Either Mr. Gilbert thought that such a resolution would protect the jobs of all city workers or that this resolution might spur some kind of real debate.

What is undebatable, however, is that we all have different viewpoints regarding the permanence of city employees. There are many good employees who want nothing more than to be empowered to do their jobs. Yet we must face reality and understand that we cannot continue to shrink our population, live with shrinking government budgets, and maintain the current city staffing levels.

This is an unfortunate situation for all of us who reside in Duluth.

The citizens of Duluth have several options: get more from fewer employees, live with fewer services, or find ways to increase the revenue pool (be a place where commerce thrives and reap the benefits). Perhaps Councilor Gilbert should have brought another resolution to the city council.

(Gilbert's resolution was withdrawn before the council could take action on it. The resolution is printed below)


04-0675R
REPLACEMENT
RESOLUTION FOR POLICY AGAINST LAYOFF OF EMPLOYEES.
BY COUNCILOR GILBERT:
WHEREAS, the present budget situation requires that the administration, city council and employees work as a team to deliver the best possible services at the lowest cost; and
WHEREAS, good management practices require that the administration and city council respect the talents, experience and opinions of employees to help balance the budget; and
WHEREAS, wages earned by city employees help strengthen the local economy; and
WHEREAS, city employees depend on their jobs to support families;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city council of the city of Duluth adopts a policy of “no layoff” of city employees commencing with the adoption of this resolution, such policy to be used in budget processing.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution establishes the policy that the council will not allow layoff of employees to be the method used to establish a balanced budget.