Council Action Requested:
Amend the County Code to change the Deputy County Administrator position title to Assistant County Administrator.
Points to Consider:
On May 22, 2023, Council considered the first reading of this Ordinance. The Ordinance is simply a name change from one title to another.
County Council asked for a better understanding of the difference in job duties and titles of a Deputy County Administrator versus an Assistant County Administrator and decided to delay consideration of the agenda item.
Draft organization charts reflecting where both positions could fit within the County hierarchy or structure have been developed to help highlight the main different between the two titles, which is the reporting structure or number of direct reports to each position. A Deputy County Administrator would have no to limited number of direct reports, but would rather have full leeway to work with all Division Directors and Department Directors to work on policy and service delivery and operational issues across the entire organization and all departments.
In contrast, the Assistant County Administrator has several direct reports and oversee the General Services Division or functions of the County, with more limited interactions with departments in other divisions or functions of the County.
In addition to the organizational charts, a job description for the Assistant County Administrator is attached with this agenda item, outlining the supervisory role over the General Services Division.
With the pending vacancy of the Deputy County Administrator position (currently called Assistant County Administrator) the County Administrator would like to formally change the title of the position from Deputy County Administrator to Assistant County Administrator to better reflect the duties and current function of the position, whereby the Assistant County Administrator is the defacto Division Leader for the General Services Division of the County.
The County currently operates with a Division Structure, whereby the organization chart is structured around five divisions -- general services, financial services, public services, development services and emergency services. Each division is led by a Division Director, who also has general department head responsibilities, including the Assistant County Administrator, who oversees the general services division, which includes the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications and Marketing, Parks and Recreation, and Risk Management.
This model is sufficient and an appropriate role for an Assistant County Administrator position to have departmental responsibility as well as organization-wide responsibilities, such as strategic plan oversight, training and development initiatives and service delivery evaluation.
However, the role of a Deputy County Administrator, is viewed differently and at a higher level (including pay), whereby that role is generally without any direct daily department oversight, but has an organization-wide role to work with all department directors on departmental and organization-wide issues from policy development and implementation to service delivery enhancements and Council priority implementation. This structure allows the Deputy County Administrator position to serve as an interim department director during times of leadership staff transition, as well as serve as a true second-in-command role to the County Administrator to focus on organization-wide needs.
While not presently seeking a Deputy County Administrator position, just a name change to reflect the current duties of an Assistant County Administrator, the Deputy County Administrator role would be a natural promotion or advancement position for an Assistant County Administrator and help to delineate a succession line for the County Administrator.
Given the growth of Lancaster County and the growing complexities of services in the County, there could be a need to have both positions of a Deputy County Administrator and an Assistant County Administrator, but that is not the request at this time.
.
Funding and Liability Factors:
The salary range for an Assistant County Administrator is less than the salary range for a Deputy County Administrator.
Recommendation:
Approval of Ordinance 2023-1850.