PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BPA MEETING … The Bryan Board of Public Affairs met on Tuesday, June 2. Among the items that were approved was the creation of a new public communications manager who will report to the BMU Director of Utilities.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Bryan Board of Public Affairs approved the creation of its new public communications manager position at its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2.
Board members present were Karen Ford, Annette Schreiner, Brian Davis, and Debra Beevers, with Jeremy Suffel being absent from the meeting.
The newly created position will report directly to Derek Schultz, BMU Director of Utilities. “We are requesting the approval of a new position classification titled public communications manager,” said Tricia Lyons, Human Resources Director for the City of Bryan and Bryan Municipal Utilities.
Lyons told board members the newly created position is intended to strengthen and formalize the communications of customer engagement and community outreach.
She then added, “It’s a primary point of coordination for external messaging, public information and support for organizational communication.”
The position would become beneficial for 24/7 operations to fulfill the responsibilities needed for developing and executing comprehensive communications and community engagement strategies across all platforms internally and externally for Bryan Municipal Utilities.
Schultz said the position does not add to staffing levels because the person in a similar situation previously left earlier this year.
The new communications manager position takes those duties, as well as some expanded ones. Lyons mentioned the position has been discussed in detail and supported by the human resources committee.
“We’re not adding to the head count, but this position will be a little broader than what we had before,” said Beevers. “Director of Utilities Derek (Schultz) needs to get somebody that can really support him in communication marketing and public relations. It’s important to communicate properly when you’re in this business.”
Board member Karen Ford made the motion to authorize the creation of the public communications manager position with board member Annette Schreiner seconding it. The motion was carried by a 4-0 vote.
The public communications manager position will be an unclassified position by ordinance and designated as a salaried position. The pay range would likely be $62,000 to $109,000.
A resolution authorizing an update to the BMU Compensation Plan was approved. The plan is applicable to hourly and salaried electric, water, and communications department staff not included in a collective bargaining unit.
Lyons said with the approval of the new public communications manager classification, she was asking for approval to update the current BMU Compensation Plan to include the newest position. There were no other changes to the compensation plan.
Davis made a motion to approve the updated compensation plan with Ford seconding it. The motion was carried by a 4-0 vote.
A motion to approve educational assistance for power plant operator Levi Vasquez was approved by a 4-0 vote.
Vasquez is currently attending Northwest State Community College, where he took electrical print and troubleshooting classes toward his industrial electrical degree.
Lyons noted that the class directly supports Vasquez’s current role. She requested the board for a 75 percent of the tuition payout which totaled $510, which is within the BMU’s tuition reimbursement policy.
A resolution authorizing Schultz to execute an agreement with Diligent Corporation for BoardEffect Pro subscriptions for a web-based platform designed to facilitate the distribution, management, and electronic access of board packet information and related materials was approved.
The BPA approved spending $5,250 for the first year, plus a $500 setup fee, to switch to a web-based subscription service to house documents and other materials for the board members.
Schultz said future one-year renewals would have a 3 percent increase. He also said the agreement can be terminated with 30 days’ notice.
Suzan Hensley, a 31-year employee, addressed the BPA with concerns about wage disparity between some positions. BPA board chairman Annette Schreiner said the board would investigate the matter for a possible answer.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 16 at 5 p.m.
