AUBURN - In with a human resources director and modernized government, out with human rights staff and possibly the civil service office.

As city manager Mark Palesh is on the search for a director to take on a variety of duties, the Human Rights Commission is on the hunt for space outside of city hall.

A popular misconception strikes most people that the upcoming removal of the human rights office from city hall's basement means it's gone.

Not so, officials say.

Similar to other city boards and commissions, the human rights commissioners will continue to meet regularly, councilor William Graney said.

“They can use city hall for meetings like other commissions do, but they wouldn't have a physical presence here,” Palesh said.

Councilors voted four to one for the financial budget June 14, which terminated funding for the Human Rights Commission's sole staff member, Karen Sheftic-Burns, executive director. As of Monday, Oct. 1, Sheftic-Burns and the corner office she occupies will no longer have ties to the commission. Friday, Sept. 28, will mark her last day, and the deadline for the commission to vacate the office.

Sheftic-Burns said working with the commission on a volunteer basis will depend on what other options she will come across. The 11-year employee is continuing to keep the office open, tying lose ends and finishing up while remaining visible to the public.

“It's their choice as to what they want to fund and what they don't want to. We just have to work with the funding we have or don't have,” she said.

Getting another space is up to the commissioners, Sheftic-Burns said.

Meanwhile, Palesh is busy trying to find someone to fill the human resource office, which was formed by the same budget.

“Having the Human Resource director and the Human Rights Office would be a duplication of an official,” councilor Matt Smith said.

He said the director could handle the annual average of 300 complaints, adding some are sent to a Syracuse office.

“This is just our way we're trying to modernize city government,” Smith said.

The director will take over the human rights basement office. However, if Palesh gets his way, that office will have room to grow.

In November, voters will decide the fate of a proposed change that would give the Civil Service Commission's duties to a personnel office, which would be the human resource director in this case. If this happens, the office would dissolve after June 2008.

With the removal of the three-person commission, the human resources director would then take that office, which is next door to the human rights' space. The current human rights office is such a small space it would be rolled into the suite occupied by civil service if the format is changed to then house the human resources director.

“I feel (a personnel officer) is a much more efficient system and allows a more personal (touch) in employees' careers ... I want a can-do person instead of a can't-do commission,” Palesh said.

And that's what he believes he has.

He points to the hiring of Mike Hammon to fire chief, which he called a “difficult process.” City officials went to civil service repeatedly during the process of filling the vacancy left by former Fire Chief Michael Quill's retirement in June 2006 and then former Assistant Chief and Acting Fire Chief Terry Winslow's October retirement.

During a string of meetings with the civil service over the span five months, civil service changed eligibility for internal candidates, ruled only current department employees could apply for the chief's position, blocked a move to install a public safety commissioner, and then opened the competitive test to allow outside candidates to apply for fire chief.

“Basically, the union selected my management staff. That should never be. ... That's why we have the incredible cost in the fire department because of a contract that was not done well,” Palesh said.

The personnel officer would allow for a system of checks and balances with the city manager.

Although the human rights person will take over the civil service duties, the city will continue to follow the civil service regulations, Graney added.

The civil service clerk Pat VanOrman plans to retire this winter. Palesh said that, eventually, the city likely would need a clerk to assist the human resources person. This financial year doesn't include this but likely the municipality would add it.

The Auburn Civil Service Commission called a special meeting and public hearing Wednesday to discuss the human resources position.

Palesh is handling the entire hiring process and has received 25 to 30 applications since advertising the position in publications. Some are from out-of-state, but the majority live in New York. Palesh is reviewing the applications, making sure all the information is there. He will continue to accept applications until the end of the month.

When asked for a timeline for hiring a person, he responded “As soon as I can get it done.”

The position's duties includes labor relations, assisting with union negotiations and addressing employee grievances. It falls under a recently crafted salary tier, which ranges from $61,095 to $74,245.

“We have 290 employees, 150 part-time employees. We needs someone to keep track of things, especially training and education,” Graney said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net