Plymouth Common Council approves 3 new job descriptions

Monday evening, members of the Plymouth Common Council considered three new job descriptions.

The city’s Human Resource Manager, Jen Klingerman, presented each new position individually, and the council approved them as a group with six affirmations and one in opposition. 

The first new job description is for a Civilian Chief of Police position.  Klingerman said, “This one is the mirror image of the current Chief of Police job description we have. It's simply that our current Chief of Police is required to be in the 77 fund.  This is just allowing that position to be an employee outside the 77 fund, which also opens up future employment once we have that position open to anyone who doesn’t qualify for the 77 fund.” 

The current chief of Police, John Weir, will not be available for the 77 fund after February 2025. The plan is to move him from the Chief of Police job description to the new Civilian Chief of Police position. 

Klingerman said that the city’s current job description requires the chief to be in the 1977 pension fund; no state law requires their participation in the 77 fund.  City Attorney Jeff Houin said this would give the city options if a chief or candidate does not qualify for the 1977.  

The Common Council recently made a similar change for the Fire Department, creating a Civilian Fire Inspector position.    

The second new position is for Engineering Technician for the Engineering Department.  City Engineer Dan Sellers has realized the need for additional help in his department.  He said, “With the extra workload of the MS4 program and the public works section, it’s getting to be an overwhelming task to stay on top of all that.” 

The City Engineer told council members that IDEM suggests the employee handling the MS4 testing and reporting should be working 30 to 40 hours a week.  MS4 is a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System regulated by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to protect surface waters from polluted stormwater runoff. Sellers fears he will get burned out pretty quickly.

Sellers said the technician would work with engineering and the city’s Utility Superintendent, Donnie Davidson, but work directly under the City Engineer. 

The final new position is for a full-time Planning Director.  Initially, this position will be under the Building Commissioner, but Mayor Listenberger said he anticipates the person will work directly with the mayor and city attorney.   

Mayor Listenberger said Planning Consultant Ralph Booker has indicated he is ready to retire and recommended creating a full-time position. 

This position would handle the city’s planning operations, including attending various community police meetings, providing consultation, and overseeing the implementation of comprehensive plans.  They would meet with builders, developers, and citizens for matters related to the planning and development of a community project and ensure proper steps are taken. The Planning Director would also work with the Building Commissioner on code enforcement.    

Future discussions could create a separate department for Planning and the possibility of shared services with a couple of the surrounding communities.

The Plymouth City Council approved the three new job descriptions with a 6 to 1 vote.  Councilman Duane Culp voted against it because he doesn’t like the name “Civilian” with the Chief of Police title.  He feels civilian doesn’t sound as official as the job title and requirements are.   

Mayor Listenberger said the new positions are funded in the 2025 city budget.