Russell Karlstad
Anonymous
Forum Replies Created
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- Is your organization still paying staff to mostly stay home (essentially paid furlough)?<b> Staff on reduced hours and split shifts. Still had needs in the buildings so we kept them on as a skeletal crew but paid 40 hours with the knowledge they were on call</b>
- Do you have any staff that are on unpaid furlough? No
- Have you had to layoff anyone? No, but 2 anticipated new hires were shot down by finance <b>committee</b>
- Have your City/Town/School officials raised the possibility of layoffs or furloughs with you? No, town has had zero input during the entire emergency, left it to managers. Oh, once they said thanks for helping out lol.
Russ Karlstad
Clinton MA
In reply to: Reporting Structure for Custodial Staff
Good afternoon,
Here in Clinton we combined all town, cemetery, parks & rec and school custodians and grounds into one Facility & Grounds dept.
We eliminated every school having a lead daytime (good cost savings) and went to a single lead custodian that directs the workflow, inventory etc. in the schools Principles were difficult to deal with at first, but I was lucky that in that between the last year and the start of the next school year all the principles will have been replaced, allowing us to have better oversight. Of course the daytime custodian responds to building needs as always but they report directly to me, and soon my assistant FM as soon as my budget gets approved.
By removing the issue of multiple masters we have improved response time and overall efficiencies and its noticable.
Russ KArlstad
Clinton Ma
In reply to: Lock Down Devices
In reply to: Drop-in sales visits
First off, you all have admin staff????? Sweet.
I had a WB Mason guy stop by while I was eating lunch one day and not knowing me he asked for me. I told him I wasn’t there, did not know when Russ would be back. I then schooled him on how rude it was to walk into an office when you don’t know the person and they are eating lunch.
As he left I handed him on of “Russ’s” business cards and told him to call him on his cell on the way out, he did. He asked the obvious question, I said yes – have never heard from him again.
So in short, I do not take cold calls, we are all to busy stop our day for it. Salesman know this so don’t worry about them, they are adults.
Thanks,
Russ K Clinton MA
In reply to: Take Home Vehicles
Currently no assigned vehicles.
However I just put in 2 charging stations and plan on acquiring some type of EV this year for Facilities use as a test case. I will use it a a take home vehicle for myself as well – putting to many miles on my POV, need to curtail that.
In town, the DPW director as well as the foremen have take home vehicles – about 5 total i think.
Russ Karlstad in Clinton MA
In reply to: Facilities Assessment
In reply to: First day of school blues……
In reply to: BLEACHER SEATING – FREE
My rec dept would be interested if available. Keep us posted, we can pick up.
rkarlstad@clintonma.govIn reply to: Kitchen Equipment Service
In reply to: Outdoor Basketball Hoops
In reply to: Video Surveillance systems
We just used Setronics for a roll out here in SEBRSD, all 4 schools. No major issues, they were good in follow up and training for end users.
My only comment is if you think you have enough coverage, your wrong. Maximize you camera count and/or locations. That one event will always occur out of view.
I agree with Ken as to devices, double and triple check across the bid documents – or equals are not always a good choice.
In reply to: Building use fees
In reply to: Filter Company ?
Paul, I have had Airex for many years and they have been great!!I already have Airex’s bid and are waiting for prices from N.E.,& Northeast Air Solutions bid to come back. And from what I hear from the industry is that N.E. from RI are bidding low. Hopefully Airex keeps our filter order. I would like to hear from you about the samples you received? Mark (c) 781-389-3592. Good Luck!
