City mulls hiring asset manager
City officials may consider hiring an employee to oversee an asset management program being created under a contract with Barton & Loguidice.
Laura Walls, an engineering aide with Barton & Loguidice, told the Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee on Wednesday that much of the work on the project has involved the creation of asset registers for each of the city’s departments. She said that is where each department lists what kinds of assets it manages, from vehicles to infrastructure, their values, conditions and other important information.
“One of the more significant pieces of this work is that we’re stressing that once this asset register is developed, it’s very important that it be maintained going forward,” Walls said. She said the goal is to have the registers complete by Aug. 19, though that might be a little “hopeful.”
Walls added that the city should also consider adopting a policy that would govern its asset management. She said that policy could set forth criteria, as well as outline what the city hopes to accomplish.
Timothy Taber, an associate with Barton & Loguidice, said the policy would be a commitment from the city to the practice of asset management.
City Comptroller John Tuey said he likes the draft policy presented to the committee, which really sets forward best practices for capital asset management by the city. He said, though, tracking the city’s assets does require a level of investment Kingston is not currently at in terms of resources. Tuey said he believes each department should be involved in managing their assets, but the program should be overseen by one employee.
“Currently, we’re not at best practices,” Tuey said. “If we want to get to best practices, there has to be an investment. We have to look at what is the benefit of that investment.” He said, for instance, the asset management program would help the city each year when it creates it capital budget plan. Asset registers would provide information on the conditions of the city’s equipment and infrastructure and let officials know which ones need to be replaced or refurbished, Tuey said.
Alderman Doug Koop, D-Ward 2, said he supported the city hiring one person to oversee the program. He said it would be up to the mayor and his staff to determine what that position would entail, if that’s the direction the city chooses to go. It would be up to the council to determine how to fund that position, Koop said. Alderwoman Maryann Mills, D-Ward 7, said she too favored one person maintaining the program. She also said she has been an advocate for the asset management program.