Special Board of Aldermen Public Hearing — May 20, 2020 Page 13
Chairman Dowd
OK time has expired. So if we get through other questions, we could come back. Is there anyone else that
has a question relative to the or in general or the City Budget or the Mayor's Office.
Beth Scaer | do.
Chairman Dowd
Your name?
Beth Scaer 111 East Hobart Street.
Chairman Dowd
OK, go ahead.
Ms. Scaer Why hasn’t the City cut any positions and reduced staffing with this, you know, pandemic hanging
over our heads.
Mayor Donchess
Well if anything the pandemic has increased the amount of work. We’ve got people working 7 days a week
on many things. First of all we’ve got our Public Health Response, | could get into the details of what Public
Health is doing but they are working 7 days a week to limit the spread of the virus. Our Frist Responders are,
of course, still working and are just as necessary as possible, just as necessary as always, actually more
necessary as a result of the virus and the crisis. Our teachers are teaching remotely. Now that’s easier said
than done. My neighbor across the street who has a few kids, commented, | thought teaching was easy but
given that I’m now in charge of making sure my child does their homework; easier said than done. So our
teachers are teaching remotely and those are the major employee groups.
We have a number of people in the City who are working remotely and doing their normal duties. Certainly,
there are some employees who will, in the short term, at the library, there are some employees who are likely
to be furloughed. | think they’ve been informed of that by now. So there are certain changes that have been
made and, of course, we have the hiring freezes that has been in place so we are holding certain positions
open.
Ms. Scaer Ok, thank you.
102 BOARD OF ALDERMEN
103 LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Chairman Dowd
Anyone? lf not — does anyone have an additional question for the Mayor’s Office or the General Budget?
Seeing none, we are going to move on to the Board of Aldermen and that is part of General Government.
Any questions on the Board of Aldermen’s portion of the budget? | am seeing none. So! am going to move
on to the Legal Department, any questions relative to the Legal Department? Hearing and seeing none we
will move on to the City Clerk’s Office.
Ms. Ortolano Hello?
