Warner Robins Council Nixes Procurement Manager Job | News

The Warner Robins mayor fought a losing battle with a majority of council members to create a procurement manager position within the city.

The contentious issue took center stage for the third council meeting in a row.

The issue came up when former Purchasing Agent Mark Baker left the city to take a job with the county.

Shaheen and council member Daron Lee fought to have the position turned into a procurement manager job, paying about $48,000. A second person, in a job that already exists, would handle city purchasing.

Lee told the council Monday night and at two prior meetings, that the city needs a procurement, or project manager, to oversee construction projects like a welcome center, renovations to City Hall, and an expansion to the animal shelter.

Council members Mike Daley, Carolyn Robbins and Mike Davis stressed that the city has never had a project manager, and that it's not in the budget to add one now.

They believe department heads can handle the work, as they have in the past.

When Lee called for a vote on the job, he could not get a second to vote or discuss the issue further. The motion died on the floor.

After the meeting, council member Mike Daley said, "It's been talked about enough. We didn't need to have any more discussion on it."

Shaheen talked about his frustration with council's decision. 

He said, "I just think it's a lack of cooperation among the council to get projects done. They feel like I should disseminate this to the employees, and then not pay them, or they want me to do the projects. It's just good business acumen to have a point of contact for the media, a point of contact for our contractors. Thanks to the citizens for getting SPLOST projects done. We owe the citizens the right that these projects get done."

Shaheen says he plans to work around council's decision by hiring someone with a contracting background into the vacant purchasing agent position. He said then, that person would be responsible for project management duties.

The job pays $43,000, and Shaheen said he plans to open it for applications on Tuesday.

Council member Mike Daley said he doesn't think that will work, because he says state law prohibits cities from being in the general contracting business.

He says it places too much liability on the city.