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Labor and Personnel Springfield combines HR, labor relations roles
The city of Springfield, which spent heavily on labor-related legal costs during the five-year tenure of the Springfield Finance Control Board, expects to realize significant savings by creating a new position: director of human resources and labor relations.
William Mahoney, an attorney and former Ludlow selectman who had been serving as human resources director in Enfield, Conn., began work in the new position in early July. With the departure of the city’s personnel director the previous month, the city was able to redefine the position.
By avoiding the need to hire both a labor relations director and a personnel director, Springfield will save an estimated $86,000 a year in salary and benefits. Tom Walsh, communications director for Mayor Domenic Sarno, said the city expects to save another $150,000 or so by having Mahoney handle work that otherwise would have had to be turned over to outside legal counsel.
From 2005 through 2008, the city’s legal costs in connection with reforms implemented by the Finance Control Board exceeded $1.8 million. Walsh suggested that those costs would have been significantly lower if Mahoney had been on board during that time.
Stephen Lisauskas, who served as director of the Finance Control Board until its role ended on June 30, lauded the decision to hire Mahoney.
“The combination of the two positions will provide us some operational savings while also allowing us to continue to do our work of improving labor relations and personnel management while reducing costs to the taxpayers,” Lisauskas said.
Labor and Personnel Springfield combines HR, labor relations roles
Springfield combines HR, labor relations roles
The city of Springfield, which spent heavily on labor-related legal costs during the five-year tenure of the Springfield Finance Control Board, expects to realize significant savings by creating a new position: director of human resources and labor relations.
William Mahoney, an attorney and former Ludlow selectman who had been serving as human resources director in Enfield, Conn., began work in the new position in early July. With the departure of the city’s personnel director the previous month, the city was able to redefine the position.
By avoiding the need to hire both a labor relations director and a personnel director, Springfield will save an estimated $86,000 a year in salary and benefits. Tom Walsh, communications director for Mayor Domenic Sarno, said the city expects to save another $150,000 or so by having Mahoney handle work that otherwise would have had to be turned over to outside legal counsel.
From 2005 through 2008, the city’s legal costs in connection with reforms implemented by the Finance Control Board exceeded $1.8 million. Walsh suggested that those costs would have been significantly lower if Mahoney had been on board during that time.
Stephen Lisauskas, who served as director of the Finance Control Board until its role ended on June 30, lauded the decision to hire Mahoney.
“The combination of the two positions will provide us some operational savings while also allowing us to continue to do our work of improving labor relations and personnel management while reducing costs to the taxpayers,” Lisauskas said.
Written by MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich
