12032011 - News Article - Portage mayor-elect Snyder begins forming administration

Portage mayor-elect begins forming administration

NWI Times

Dec 03, 2011 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-mayor-elect-begins-forming-administration/article_729e1252-d326-5bdc-9853-7acc4cdbd26f.html

PORTAGE | With four weeks to go before taking office, Mayor-elect James Snyder is beginning to put his new administration in place.

There are some old names that will be returning to City Hall.

A.J. Monroe, who served as the city's planner under the Sammie Maletta and Doug Olson administrations, will remain to work with Snyder. The mayor-elect has chosen Monroe to serve as the city's director of public works, replacing Craig Hendrix.

"A.J. oversaw, from the planning side, some of the greatest expansion in the city of Portage. It is a privilege to have him," Snyder said.

Gregg Sobkowski, who serves on the Board of Works and as attorney for the Redevelopment Commission, was named as city attorney, replacing Ken Elwood. Sobkowski also served as city attorney for the Olson administration.

Amanda Lakie, Snyder's secretary at his mortgage business, will be Snyder's administrative assistant, replacing Norma Laboy.

Snyder said he also has decided to retain Don Slawnikowski as the plant division superintendent for the Utility Service Department.

Snyder said he has not made any other decisions concerning personnel but hopes to have his administration put in place by the time he takes office Jan. 1.

"My goal is not to make rash decisions but to make strategic decisions," he said, adding he is looking at a balance of "continuity and change" when making personnel decisions.

"We are also looking at the city budget and finding savings where we can. We are making sure we are fiscally sound next year," he said.

Snyder said he is working with a committee to choose a new police chief. Thus far, he said, he has received between six and nine applications for the position. Those applications have come from within the department's ranks. Police Chief Mark Becker is not among the applicants.

Snyder said he is looking at all other city departments but has not made any decisions.

"We are not going to trade quality for speed," Snyder said, adding that personnel changes will give him an opportunity to restructure City Hall.

"The first part is finding out who is going to be where. The second part is finding how to structure City Hall to be the most efficient and responsive to meet residents needs," he said.

He and his staff have adopted a motto — "Excellence and Efficiency" — for city employees for 2012, he said, and signs will be posted in City Hall and "every police car and firetruck" to remind employees of their responsibilities.