By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Wheels are turning in such a way that office hours and in-house staffing could be cut in a cost-savings plan discussed last week by Commissioners with the Town of Waterford Sanitary District No. 1.
Commissioners did not take any formal action toward reductions at their July 10 monthly board meeting.
But a motion was made to negotiate with a firm, Waterford-based KJ Tax & Accounting LLC, to begin outsourcing some of WSD’s back-office operations.
As background, Jim Filicetti is a certified public accountant, who co-owns KJ Tax & Accounting with his wife, Kathy. He was one of the candidates seeking appointment to the WSD board when former Commissioner Donna Block resigned a year ago for health reasons.
Commissioner Rick McNeiley subsequently was appointed to fill that board position by former Town Chairman Bob Langmesser.
Upcoming negotiations with KJ Tax come on the heels of a report generated by Mequon-based Certified Public Accountant Barry J. Goldman.
In his analysis of WSD’s current operations plan, Goldman asserted that savings could be achieved by handing over some in-house tasks to an outside firm.
As part of his responsibilities, Goldman sought requests for proposal (RFPs) from firms offering accounting, billing and related services to agencies such as the WSD.
Goldman received three responses and recommended two of the three – the other recommended firm being Waukesha-based Scrima, Kibitzke & Co. – and each provided price quotes and a description of services that could be offered.
“Either firm will provide an initial cost savings of around $82,000 to the district with a possible rate reduction to users of 8.3 percent,” Goldman wrote in a memo.
“The district should evaluate its requirement to be open to customers 40 hours per week. The 8.3 percent savings assumes a reduced staffing level.”
Last week, WSD commissioners were not necessarily convinced they could save as much as 8.3 percent by outsourcing some functions, but a belief in some amount of savings was expressed by all three board members.
Debbie Nelson, WSD’s office administrator, whose current position would be impacted by the changes being considered, agreed that savings might not be as robust as projected in Goldman’s report because he reviewed a budget that was not typical for WSD.
“Regardless, I think we are looking at a sizable amount of savings,” WSD Chairman Dan Dickinson said. “It will mean changes in staffing and how many hours we’re open to customers each week.”
McNeiley said he is not concerned about reducing window hours of WSD customers.
“Once we adjust our times, I do believe our customers will adjust to them,” McNeiley said. “If we’re open 16 hours a week, they’ll figure out when they need to stop in.”
Dickinson said he also believes most WSD customers would adjust to any operating changes, but noted outreach efforts might be necessary.
“It’s all part and parcel,” Dickinson said. “You have to go through the education process.”
Commissioners did not spend much time July 10 examining staffing levels. But it is likely that in-house staffing would be reduced to achieve savings from the proposed outsourcing work.
“I don’t see how we’d be able to move forward without reducing staffing and (office) hours,” Commissioner Jeff Santaga said.
If plans with KJ Tax & Accounting move forward, a new staffing plan would be devised and it would outline specific job duties for each retained staff person.
“Any and all employees that would be affected would be given adequate notice,” Dickinson said. “This would be an orderly transition.”
Further discussion is planned at upcoming WSD mee
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