Council looks favorably on creating full‑time facilities manager; staff to draft budget amendment

Town staff proposed creating a full‑time facilities manager to replace much of the current seasonal, part‑time building‑maintenance work. Staff said retention of seasonal workers has been difficult, leading to deferred maintenance and loss of institutional knowledge.

A staff presenter said the new role would combine maintenance and planning duties, handle regular upkeep, manage deferred‑maintenance backlogs, and provide continuity during shoulder seasons. Staff proposed benefits and standard full‑time compensation to improve retention and expected the town’s net budget increase to be “around $62,000” as presented; staff explained that figure reflects consolidation of maintenance budgets currently spread across four departments and incremental costs for a new full‑time position.

Council members raised recruitment and retention questions: one councilor said a single full‑time employee “never runs out of work” given deferred maintenance, while another raised concerns about required technical skills, sewer and water system operation responsibilities, and appropriate pay and benefits. Staff said they would propose health insurance and URS retirement as part of the package and expected the position to be competitive with similar canyon employers.

Council members also discussed housing for the position and whether a living unit would be necessary to recruit qualified candidates; staff said the town does not currently provide employee housing and offered no immediate plan to do so.

Council consensus favored moving ahead: members asked staff to draft a fuller job description and present a November budget amendment with detailed numbers. No formal vote was recorded; staff will return with a refined proposal.