At-will jobs up for grabs in city government

He's not formally seated until Jan. 1, but this week Marietta Mayor-elect Joe Matthews was already working toward his transition into office by advertising for six staff positions he'll be appointing next month.

Those jobs, which include safety-service director, assistant safety-service director, development director, development specialist, mayor's secretary and mayor's clerk, are now staffed with employees appointed by current Mayor Michael Mullen.

"Anyone can apply for the positions-everything's up for grabs," Matthews said Tuesday, adding that current staffers are also encouraged to apply.

"But it's up to them to reapply for those jobs," he said.

Asked if he planned to make any staff changes, Matthews said he had no particular agenda.

"I have no idea and won't know anything until I receive the resumes," he said. "Then I'll sit down with the applicants and conduct interviews. It doesn't hurt to look.There are people looking for jobs out there, and you never know who might be interested."

The ability to appoint a new staff is the prerogative of each new city administration, according to Marietta Law Director Roland Riggs III. He noted the six staff positions being advertised are considered "at will" posts that are subject to change with the election of a new mayor.

"It's certainly appropriate for (Matthews) to begin interviewing people and start his appointment process at this time," Riggs said. "And the more new people who are hired makes it more important that they have some time to interact and learn about their jobs from outgoing employees."

But he said there's no requirement that a worker leaving the city's employ has to train his or her replacement.

All but one of the city employees currently filling the six posts being advertised by Matthews say they'll submit resumes to continue their jobs.

Development director Mike Stocky, who has served five years in Mullen's administration, said Tuesday he had not yet decided whether he'll reapply.

But development specialist Emily Stewart plans to submit her resume.

"I've been here for two years now and I really like this job," she said. "The only major issue is that your job comes up for renewal every four years if there's a new administration. That's especially difficult when you have a family with two small kids."

Mayor's clerk Mary Gruber has been with the office for seven years now.

"I'll reapply," she said. "I love the job and want to stay."

Secretary Lynn Vermaaten has worked in the mayor's office since Matthews was first elected in 1992.

"I enjoy this work and would like to continue," she said. "I think Mary and I go the extra mile for the city and would make the administration's transition go much more smoothly. We have a good team."

Safety-service director Al Miller and assistant safety-service director Bill Dauber both said they, too, would like to stay on with the city.

Riggs' office will also go through some changes this year as law director-elect Paul Bertram III takes over in January.

"In our case, Mr. Bertram and I have been working together, sharing information about cases and the responsibilities of this position, so he'll have a real grasp of how the office works," he said.

Riggs said he's also tried to include Bertram in decisions to hire new assistants who will be serving in the law director's office.

Mullen said Matthew's move to begin his appointment process now is probably a good idea.

"It's a smart way for him to do this," he said. "And it gives time for any new people coming on board to meet and learn from those who they'll be working with."

Mullen said he also advertised for resumes and interviewed applicants before he took office in 2004.