Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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F CUS On Study Results and Recommendations Unveiled for Alignment of City and Fayetteville PWC Services The results of a six-month alignment study were unveiled at the Aug. 5 work session with City Council, City senior staff, the Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) board and PWC senior staff. The study, conducted by DavenportLawrence (DL) of Aberdeen, found that the Fayetteville PWC operates effectively in the delivery of electric, water and sewer services to area residents. The study also found that the PWC functions in a manner that is contrary to the City charter and at times that is not in the best interest of the City. Furthermore, the City Council is compelled by the City charter to increase its oversight of PWC finances. The City of Fayetteville engaged DavenportLawrence in February of 2013 to evaluate opportunities to align services, reduce redundancies and improve efficiencies between the City and Fayetteville PWC to better serve the interests of local citizens and customers. As part of the study, DavenportLawrence established a Functional Alignment Project Team comprised of City and PWC staff and board members to assist in information gathering and organizational reviews. The Functional Alignment Team enabled both the City and PWC to participate in the study process. Early in the process of identifying ways to align the financial operations of the two organizations, DavenportLawrence identified conflicts that resulted from significantly different financial software platforms, cultures and processes. RECOMMENDED CHANGES The study recommends a phased implementation of changes over the next 30 months. DavenportLawrence has developed a prioritized action list that takes into consideration the City's financial, political and historical capacities to initiate a comprehensive change. Proposed changes, in order or priority, include: • The City should resume its responsibilities as "Parent Municipal Corporation" of Fayetteville PWC as detailed in Steve Levitas' legal memorandum, including Treasury functions • The Commission should transfer all legal services to the City's internal Legal Division, as well as the associated legal support funding allocated in the FY14 budget • All lobbying activities to be coordinated with City Council and contracts to be ratified by City Council • The City should lead all communications involving Fayetteville PWC and the process by which communication is managed and delivered • The City should amend its 2006 Fort Bragg water agreement with the Commission to revise the interest rate, apply historical pre-payments to the balance and modify the agreement to allow a pre-payment of balance • The City should amend its Fiber Optic Network agreement with Fayetteville PWC to align ownership and planning under the City, and develop Internal Standard Services that detail service delivery, capital and cost allocation and responsibilities • The City should amend its Fleet agreement with the Commission to functionally align with the City to reduce personnel costs, recalculate charges to the City on a cost basis and develop Internal Service Standards to improve efficiencies • Establish Support Services Department in a phased approach to identify additional opportunities to share support services in Organizational Development, Finance, Fleet, Purchasing, Audit, Communications and IT • Define alignment of Oracle platform for both the City and Fayetteville PWC and implement integration. Up & Coming Weekly's p g y Pocket Guide Community Directory 2013 2013 3 www.upandcomingweekly.com continued next page Pocket Guide 2014 Reserve Space Now! Available at over 500 locations in the Fayetteville, Cumberland County Area VOL. 13 6 AUGUST 21-27, 2013 www.upandcomingweekly.com Call 484-6200 for more information. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM