AUBURN - Getting the ball moving on restructuring changes is shaking up city hall.

Thursday's meeting will be the last, for awhile at least, to operate under the usual procedures.

Beginning next week, city councilors will use alternating meetings as work sessions to draft a strategy that will save the city money.

They will use City Manager John Salomone's outline as a guide.

The plan details consolidating public works as well as combining engineering, planning and economic development and code enforcement to create “one-stop shopping” for all development services.

Also, Mayor Timothy Lattimore proposed creating a public safety commissioner.

First, councilors will tackle the issue of scrapping separate fire and police departments in lieu of a department of public safety.

James Olson, the city's director of finance, said the move, which involves eliminating the fire chief position, could save the city about $80,000 a year.

The reorganization plan would save $183,683, according to Salomone.

The group passed the budget last month with a 5 percent tax increase and no layoffs, but the councilors called this a temporary fix to an unhealthy budget that restructuring could heal.

In other business:

€ At Thursday's meeting, councilors will discuss financing for sidewalks for property owners, who would pay for the work in their taxes over five years.

The Revolving Loan Sidewalks program allows property owners to have the city take care of the construction and receive bills added into their taxes.

€ Councilors are also expected to vote whether to appoint Barbara Deacon to part-time clerical worker in the Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be

contacted at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net