MANSFIELD — Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker said the city’s Community Development Department will be outsourced to a nonprofit organization, pending a contractual agreement.
“In order to keep or make sure that we continue to receive funding from HUD (Housing and Urban Development), it (Community Development) is not being shut down, we’re transitioning to a nonprofit organization,” Theaker said.
Theaker declined to comment on what organization the city is working with; however, he said the group serves Shelby, Ashland, Crestline and other municipalities and counties throughout Ohio.
The city’s union president, Dan Mapes, identified the organization as Ohio Regional Development Corporation.
“For them to do this secretly behind closed doors to do away with their jobs and positions is absurd,” Mapes said.
According to Mapes, the Community Development Department employs three individuals, and a manager. In a letter addressed to the city’s council members, Mapes characterized the employees as “outstanding” and calls the city’s decision to outsource the department “unjust” to the employees and the taxpayers.
“You’re talking about people who have 29 years and the other has 11 years (with the Community Development Department),” Mapes said. “And I’ve never gone in there for disciplinary hearings.”
Theaker said the city’s Community Development Department provides a service to Mansfield by administering HUD funds and grants, and by authorizing rehabilitation projects to low-income families.
“We just have to make sure we keep HUD money and maximize the money that is available,” Theaker said, adding that the department depends on the government’s assistance. “Since it’s government money, we have no idea if there will be money available (from HUD) or if money will come in.”
Mapes said he does not understand the reasoning behind the city’s decision.
“It’s not going to be saving the city any money. If they argue that it’s cost effective, that’s one thing. But when they’re saying it’s going to be paid out of HUD funds, I’m not quite understanding what’s going on there,” Mapes said.
The union president said the Community Development Department received an email from the mayor’s office Wednesday afternoon with a notification of an afternoon meeting.
“That’s when they told the employees their jobs were being abolished,” Mapes said.
June 27 will be the last day for the four employees.
Mapes said he, along with employees from the Community Development Department and union representatives will be present during the city’s next regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 21.
Human Resource Director Dave Remy said the decision to outsource the department can be done administratively, allowing the mayor to bypass city council.
“But we have spoken with the organization about giving those employees the option for these people to become employees of the nonprofit corporation,” Remy said.
Before that happens, however, Remy said city council will need to approve of a new personnel ordinance, which will need to include language that “abolishes” the current positions in the Community Development Department.
“They (Ohio Regional Development Corporation) are agreeable to offering the employees a job,” Remy said, adding ORDC and city administrators plan to meet “within the week” to make the transition happen as soon as possible.
He also said ORDC plans on moving to the Community Development Department’s existing office space, located on the municipal building’s eighth floor.
Remy said the decision to outsource the Community Development Department was based on the nonprofit’s expertise and from strong recommendations from HUD officials in Columbus.
“Some of their workers have been in the field for 35 to 40 years,” Remy said.
Remy said the transition could mean an increase in HUD funding and other types of grants for the city’s community development projects, which include demolition and rehabilitation of existing homes and buildings.
According to its website, ORDC formed as a nonprofit in 1995, but began working in community development in the early 1970s. It now serves 24 entities across Ohio, including Galion, Shelby, Crestline, Zanesville and Delaware county and city.
