Manchester Board Discusses Outsourcing of Human Resource Services

The Manchester Board of Aldermen may outsource human resource services in the 2012 budget year.

Kevin Durham, a representative of Paychex, gave a presentation on a plan to the board at Tuesday's meeting. The company, a payroll and human resources outsourcing firm, already handles the city's payroll system. The proposal would allow the city to streamline all areas of human resources by providing it with a "Human Resource Generalist" (HRG). 

"The key to the HRG is she will be your employee," Durham said. "She works for the City of Manchester, but she doesn't require an office, she doesn't require a salary, and she doesn't require benefits." 

Under Paychex's proposal, the city would pay approximately $35,000 for the yearly services, such as managerial training, creation of employee handbooks and updated information on Department of Labor laws and minimum wage. The agreement would require no contract, allowing the city to stop Paychex’s services at any time should the board not be satisfied with the product.

City Administrator Ed Blattner, who is one of the people in charge of human resources, said company's services would be an upgrade to the city's current handling of human resources.

"There is just so much stuff here we are not doing," Blattner said. "We don't do a good job at this type of thing. We just don't do a good job of human resource services for our employees, in my opinion."

City Attorney Patrick Gunn, however, disagreed with Blattner's assessment.

"I wasn't going to comment, but I wanted to make sure the public understands, and the board of aldermen understands, that myself and the staff have not been sitting around with our feet up on the desk eating bonbons on human resource matters," Gunn said. "We have never had a complaint of any kind filed. There is no suggestion that there is anything that is improper. I just wanted to make sure this was clear."

The board did not need to take action on the Paychex presentation.

"This was just meant to be an informational presentation," Blattner said. "We can discuss this on the budget for 2012."

The board also approved two requests by the Parkway School District—one to hold its homecoming parade on Sept. 30, and another for permission to have a fireworks display at its spirit night on Aug. 18.