Wednesday, Jan. 07, 2009

No decision yet on Modesto city job cuts

Whether Modesto employees will face time off without pay, duty changes or losing their jobs altogether should become clearer in a few weeks.

City Manager Greg Nyhoff said he will announce plans for forced furloughs, reorganization and layoffs to the City Council or its Finance Committee a week or two after reviewing the income estimates he expects to come in next week.

"There is no reason to believe the revenue numbers will show an increase," Nyhoff said after Tuesday's council meeting, where his bosses approved payouts to three workers being laid off this month. The council also slashed $1.2 million from its Redevelopment Agency budget after showing anger at California officials for snatching $414,500 to help the state's fiscal crisis.

Two custodians and a senior housing rehabilitation specialist will get four to eight weeks' severance pay plus health benefits for the same time and up to 15 hours of paid leave to interview for other jobs.

Councilman Dave Lopez put a positive spin on tough economic times, telling how he bumped into some city firefighters in a hardware store buying parts for fire engine racks. Led by Capt. Mark Stone, they saved the city about $6,000 by building the racks themselves instead of accepting a private company's $6,900 bid, Lopez said.

"In these tough economic times, little things like that might save a job of a city employee," Lopez said.

Fierce competition for building contracts helped the city save money on a new 10-bay hangar at Modesto Airport. Council members on Tuesday hired Applegate Johnston, a Modesto company, for $611,000, an amount less than expected.

Councilman Will O'Bryant complained about another airport item, saying staff kept helpful information out of a request to pay an Arizona com- pany $237,500 for a plan that could result in a new passenger terminal. Coffman Associates submitted the only bid among 37 firms contacted.

Airport manager Jerome Thiel, who previously worked in Arizona, acknowledged having dealt with the company.

"Those are things that need to be put in the report," O'Bryant said with a scowl.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.