HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-055 - Williamsburg Cemetery Expansion Support Staff Report
tic tl R Community Services Department wmkitchene►:ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: December 7, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Kim Kugler, Director Enterprise, 519-741-2200 ext. 7544
PREPARED BY: Lorelei Eckel-Braun, Manager, Cemeteries, 519-741-2200 ext. 5390
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: November 16, 2015
REPORT NO.: CSD-15-055
SUBJECT: WILLIAMSBURG CEMETERY EXPANSION SUPPORT
RECOMMENDATION: That an existing six month full-time position be combined
with an existing part-time position to create a new full-time Cemetarian position.
BACKGROUND:
The Cemetery unit currently oversees and maintains 7 cemeteries within the City of
Kitchener. The current outdoor staffing level required to support those cemeteries
includes:
• 5 full-time CUPE 68 employees;
• 2 full-time "dual' CUPE 68 employees. These dual employees work six months
of the year within Cemeteries and six months in another city operation;
• 6 seasonal temporary employees who work 8 months a year, and;
• 2 seasonal temporary employees who work 10 months a year.
This team of outdoor employees is responsible for maintaining all cemetery grounds,
including: the burials, trees, roadways and buildings at 7 locations in addition to the
crematorium at Williamsburg.
REPORT:
The Cemetery Unit has recently undergone an expansion of 28 acres at Williamsburg
Cemetery resulting in an increased need for outdoor maintenance of the grounds, roads
and trails. The Cemetery Unit is also experiencing increased requests from the Funeral
Home Industry to provide Saturday services. Currently the Saturday services require
assistance from the outdoor staff and this work is overtime work.
By combining an existing vacant 6 month full-time position with an existing part time
position, a new full time year round position can be created that will improve customer
service at our cemeteries. This new position would work a permanent Tuesday to
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Saturday shift, increasing the level of customer service on weekends. Saturdays would
now be scheduled at straight time, instead of over-time, creating efficiencies in the
operation.
In addition to improving the customer service support on weekends, this position would
also provide year round support to maintaining the additional 28 acres of property that
has been received added to Williamsburg Cemetery.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Aligning staff resources with customer demand demonstrates Efficient and Effective
Government.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Creating this full time position will result in an increase of $6,982 within the Cemetery
wages budget. The differences are in the wage rate and benefits assigned to full time
employees versus temporary employees. This additional expense will be funded
through a $25,000 increase in new revenues generated through sales from new
features available as a result of Williamsburg Phase II development.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
N/A
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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