NORWICH – In an effort to cut city spending, last month Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey raised a motion requiring all department heads in the City of Norwich to present their requests for temporary employees before they are hired.

Despite the fact that the funds for the positions are budgeted, Roberts said he wants the committee to make the determinations on a case by case basis. “I know the money is in the budget, but I request any summer help be brought before [the Finance and Personnel Committee] before they are brought on. That way we can really watch what we are spending this year and make sure our expenses won’t exceed our revenue,” Jeffrey said. The alderman explained that he was not looking to deny the hiring of the summer help, but just wanted to know where the money was going. “I want to know what moneys we’re expending for the positions and what it’s used for,” Jeffrey said.

On Tuesday night, this suggestion was put into practice as two department heads went before the committee to discuss their summer or temporary workers.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson was the first to make his request. Ivarson asked the committee to approve the hiring of eight temporary summer employees. He explained five employees would be working with the highway department and three would be doing grounds keeping work. The funds for the DPW’s summer help comes out of three different budgets; the general fund, the water fund and the sewer fund. The ultimate impact on the general fund has historically been between $8,000 and $10,000.