ONTARIO — Ontario officials may hire an additional full-time employee and a temporary one to clean up the remainder of the Ontario Commerce Park.
At a Wednesday night personnel meeting, mayor Randy Hutchinson explained it could be less expensive to hire help than to pay a company to clean up the interior of the former General Motors property. The committee responded with a motion for the law director to draft legislation that would allow for the extra employee.
Early estimates acquired by Hutchinson show interior cleanup could cost about $50,000. Though no exact salaries or wages were mentioned, it was the mayor’s opinion that an additional full-time employee and part-time summer help would be a more effective option, and further, it could solve another problem.
It’s the mayor’s understanding that a current employee, responsible for property maintenance, intends to retire in late 2019. Officials would intend to transition the additional full-time employee into that role upon the current one’s retirement.
“Maybe bring someone on, get them trained before this other guy leaves,” Hutchinson said.
At-large councilman Larry Arnold, chair of the personnel committee, supported Hutchinson.
“We’d have to absorb a few months of salary, but the intent would be … this person slides into that position,” Arnold said.
The temporary employee was suggested by Hutchinson, as he didn’t want to send one person assigned to clean up the former GM property.
The committee recognized this process could take longer than hiring a company for cleanup, but some believe it could be more effective.
“It will be better because we’ll be in control,” third ward councilman Mark Weidemyre said.
The mayor also noted that it could be a chance to “test” the additional employee.
