Letter to the Editor: Let’s Get the Facts Straight

By Lori Chinn

For some citizens it’s easier to raise questions and make incorrect inferences about reality without first taking some time to check out the facts.

This is what I found out about the Hercules vacant senior accountant position by making a phone call to City Hall:

There was a vacant senior account position that was intended to be filled in Fiscal Year 2012-13 but the position was not filled as a cost savings measure.

There was a recent departure of the city’s Account Technician II for payroll.
Because the Finance Department has been most affected by layoffs and resignations and in recent audits this was identified as an issue that the city should address, this position will be filled at the higher level to add strength to the Finance Department.

The senior accountant will assume the payroll responsibilities and in addition assist with the multiple audits and reconciling financial statements.

This position is exempt and therefore the higher cost would be slightly offset by the elimination of overtime.

This vacant position is already funded for Fiscal Year 2012/13.

This is NOT a “NEW” position. This position is not using Measure O funds.

Let’s get the facts straight and focus on working together to rebuild Hercules.

Lori Chinn
Hercules Resident and City Volunteer

About this column: Hercules Patch will post letters to the editor of up to 300 words on topics of interest to local residents. Send your letters to robert.shea@patch.com.