Joseph McDonough
Anonymous
Forum Replies Created
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In reply to: On call pay or stipend?
Hi Tony,
Inadequate salaries for public sector facilities directors has been an issue for as long as I can remember. I see the needle is starting to slowly move up w/r to salaries, but it still has a way to go. Directors working on the “school side” are often able to secure employment contracts (which is usually good); whereas, those like me working on the “municipal” side generally aren’t allowed to have contracts and are employees at will. Regardless of which side (school, municipal or both) a director works, the best shot at getting an appropriate compensation package in my opinion is when you are offered a job and are negotiating. The inequity of what non-union directors/managers earn versus what some of our hourly union staff earn with overtime is a real problem. Often, the hourly maintenance staff earn more that the salaried directors/managers they work for. When I see the job ads and the 4-5 pages of job requirements listed for facilities directors/managers it really highlights how low these salaries are. Thinking of the overall responsibilities (24/7/365) and the amount of time we routinely work over 40 hours, I can see why some of our staff would prefer to stay working as electricians or plumbers with overtime, instead of taking a salaried position with no OT and a boatload of headaches. Jumping off my soapbox… 🙂
Goodluck,
Joe
In reply to: Industrial Painting
In reply to: LG repairs
Hi Todd,
Unfortunately, it looks tome like you will need to follow MGL 149 procurement requirements, and if the cost is over $10k (which it appears to be), you’ll need to advertise, require 50% payment bond, prepare a written scope of work statement and solicit no fewer than 3 bids. You could also look into using the State’s Tradesperson contract, which is a little less cumbersome. If the construction cost actually ends up being over $50k (based on a bonafide estimate), then you’d have to follow a sealed bid process (more complicated). In your scope of work statement you can require that the contractor be LG certified, or have similar credentials. If you have a mechanical engineering firm you work with, they might be able to help you with the scope of work in the statement of work. The State Inspector General has an updated Manual for Chpt 149 work available on-line, that gives detailed guidance.
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Salaries for in house plumbers
Hi Kevin,
In Wellesley, our top step (6 steps total) for union licensed trades staff is $41.08/hr ($85,446). Contract provides for 3% COLA next year and 2% the following year. The current hiring situation for both custodians and maintenance staff is really hard to understand. Sometimes we put out an ad for a position and get a few responses and a few weeks later the same ad generates many more responses. Keep trying and don’t settle.
We also rely on the 6-month “probationary” period prior to new hires joining the union as a way to weed out poor performers (bad hires).
Good luck,
Joe
In reply to: DPW Design Services
Haha Mike – small world isn’t it.
Hi Paul,
Hope all is well. Now that I’m no longer a consultant, I can admit that Gannett Fleming was the top DPW design firm around (I like to think my old firm- S E A Consultants -was in second place :)). Gannet Fleming was absorbed by Weston & Sampson. Jeff Alberti is their partner that oversees DPW work. Suggest contacting them for some pre-proposal thoughst and ideas for RFP…
Take care,
Joe
In reply to: Classroom Doors
Hi Gretchen,
If the building is sprinklered and the door opens to a corridor, then it probably has to be a fire-rated door (including hardware) and must be self-closing and self-latching. You should check to see if the existing door panels have labels on them too. To be safe, I’m sure your local building inspector would be happy to confirm your requirements.
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Air Quality Testing
Hi Rob,
The best advice I can give you on this topic is to use the MA Dept of Public Heath’s Indoor Air Quality group as a resource. If you go to their website you’ll see good guidance and hundreds of previous IAQ assessment reports that they have done across the State. They test for temperature, relative humidity, CO and CO2. They look for obvious signs of water infiltration/leakage. They DO NOT test for mold (there are no standards), fine particulate (dust), asbestos or any other airborne substances. They also don’t test for radon – separate State agency oversees that. Tread lightly and carefully when doing any IAQ testing. Poor or inaccurate results can cause you a big headache. The MADPH IAQ staff is a very reputable and knowledgeable group. Don’t hesitate to bring them in for assistance if your problem becomes bigger.
Good Luck.
Joe McDonough
Town of Wellesley
REMINDER – This Friday, September 23rd is deadline for those of you that have not yet responded to the survey. If interested, email me and I’ll send you the spreadsheet template. If you don’t submit your organization’s comp info, you won’t share in the consolidated results.
Thanks
Joe McDonough
Town of Wellesley
In reply to: HVAC Contractor
In reply to: Combined Facilities Departments (Research question)
Hi Joe,
1, Municipality: Town of Wellesley – Facilities Management Department. We are a separate (stand-alone) municipal department (formed in 2012) reporting up to the Select Board and are responsible for custodial, maintenance, energy management and capital projects for all 29 school and municipal buildings in Town.
2, Are you a Director that manages 2 crews (1 for municipal buildings & 1 for schools): We have an AFSCME union of custodians and maintenance staff that work across all buildings, except the 3 library buildings. The libraries have a separate “Association” for 4+ custodians.
3, Do you manage 1 crew that performs maintenance and repairs at all buildings: Our custodians do cleaning, lunch duties, non-licensed maintenance work, and grounds work. Plowing of lots/driveways by DPW. Per Q2 response, AFSCME custodians work in all buildings except libraries and our 8 maintenance staff work across all 29 buildings. Non-union municipal staff were added to AFSCME a few years after we began operations as a new group via bargaining.
4, Or do you have some sort of hybrid system.: No – we are fully consolidated. We have our own budgets – not through schools or DPW, or any other department. We use a building based budget system for all expenses, except maintenance and central office managers. I report to the Executive Director (Town Manager), with a “dashed line” reporting relationship with the School Superintendent. This has worked out fine over the past 10 years. Wellesley’s initial attempt at facilities consolidation prior to my arrival failed – just like many of the attempts I see now in other communities failing. To be successful you need: financial resources, adequate staffing (including “middle management”), autonomy (via your own budgets), trusting/collaborative relationship between Director and both school supt. and town manager/administrator, and a Director that is all-in and willing to take a leadership role to address major changes build and maintain the new department. I’ve seen too many communities think that all you need to do to have a successful consolidated facilities group is add $20k to the Director’s salary and maybe give him/her an assistant. Recipe for failure. Jumping off my soap box….
In reply to: Traffic Study
Hi Kofi,
My experience has been that this type of work (pickup/drop-off assessment) is done without consultants – usually involving police, DPW/engineering, facilities and the school staff. Many districts/towns have “Pedestrian Safety Committees” that focus on issues like this. Suggest engaging Millbury police department and their person in charge of traffic as an initial step. If the scope of work requires changes off school property (on adjacent public streets/roadways) then you may need a traffic consultant, but I’d try to low cost approach first.
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Re-Districting
In reply to: Re-Districting
Hi Joe,
Wondering how you got pulled into this effort. This task is 100% responsibility of central administration and almost nothing to do with facilities (unless you have bus responsibility – even then it’s not really about buses). Not sure what it’s like on Fitchburg, but this is generally a very, very political (and emotional for parents) process. There are consulting firms that do school enrollment projections/demographics that the City could utilize, but having a good GIS system is also critical. My suggestion is to let your Superintendent and/or Business Manager handle this.
Good luck,
Joe
In reply to: Bathroom Entrance Gate
In reply to: School gym ceiling
Keith,
Try Coatings Corp. in Norwood, MA. If they can’t do it, they probably can tell you who can.
Good Luck,
Joe
