Few personnel lost despite job cuts

Despite the elimination of the equivalent of 25.65 full-time positions, the Village of Downers Grove has managed to keep most of those employees on the job.

“I’m happy to report there was a minimum number who actually left employment with the village,” said Village Manager Dave Fieldman.

Only three full-time and four part-time employees actually left as a result of 2010 budget cuts, he said.  The others were absorbed “through a system of shifting and reassigning positions,” including some jobs that had been left vacant as a result of a village hiring freeze from April 2008 through 2009.

During the hiring freeze, the village filled only those openings necessary for public safety.

“Technically, we don’t have a hiring freeze in effect right now,” Fieldman said. “However, we are still focused on gaining efficiencies where possible.”

Fieldman kept the council apprised of the potential impact of any job cuts during the budgeting process. He also kept the staff informed.

“We share with staff the same way we share with the public,” Fieldman said. “We held staff meetings to get buy-in and support.”

Seeing the challenges faced by the village, many staffers suggested efficiencies and were flexible in their response to reassignments and retraining, Fieldman said.

The council authorized 2010 village staffing at 340.88 full-time equivalent positions, compared with 366.53 in 2009 and 374.78 in 2008.