It is probably more the latter than the former. These are people who work in noncity sites, some shared-office space, where public employees are in remote offices that I have. But they are city employees, I mean, they are on the payroll, have an ID. It would be helpful, and certainly more efficient, if they have full access to the city's system from those remote locations, as opposed to having to call in to City Hall sites to get certain 194 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 information.
We will be happy to work with Public Property on this and to see if there is -- whether we have Comcast or a Verizon connection that's near by that we could get DSL, which would allow them to be on all the time, without having to dial in and they could get out and dial back in.
Could you tell me what -- you know that I had the recent unfortunate experience with the automatic dropping of e-mail, old e-mail, which, similar to regular written messages, I like to hold on to mine. I figure if it was important enough for a person to send it to me at some point in time, and I didn't delete it then, I would like to hold on to it. The system now, what is it, 50 days?
If it is more than 50 days old, you automatically delete it?
We do notify. There are several messages that are put out. But, yes, it is 195 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 a 50-day cycle. But you have the opportunity to archive that information down to your local drive, which you can keep indefinitely.
But, now, why do you do that? Is that a service-space issue.
It is a service-space issue. It is also, you know, we have to add -- we have over 11,000 users on e-mail, and its capacity, and storing all of that information, and the cost to do so. And it is not a permanent record. If it is, then it needs to be saved off as a part of the records program that each department has. So for economies of scale, to be able to keep the costs down, we have worked through with the departments the 50-day archive time frame.
Now, would that, at least for us here in the Council, would that be eliminated if we were on our own server?
You can set, if you have your own server, you can set your storage level to 196 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 indefinite. However, you have a degradation of service. The server only has so much space, only can handle so much information. So the ideal way to have good service and have the functionality is to archive your e-mail that you have read, archive it off onto your C drive. And we can help you do that. That's not a problem.
I know. And they have offered the service. I get, you know, a fair amount of e-mails. Sometimes I read them, sometimes I don't. And, you know, to sit there on a regular basis and just archive them, at a certain level, is just a complete waste of time.
I am sure. I think what I guess I don't particularly like is that someone else gets to decide how long I get to keep it. It is just a little personal quirk of mine. It is on my computer, leave it alone. Just 197 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 leave it there, and I will deal with it when I feel like dealing with it.
Actually, Councilman, it is on the server, that's the problem.
Well, you know. You say, "server," I say, "computer." It is in my office, I figure it is mine, it came to me. What you guys do with it, and all the little people running through the network, it is kind of like not really important to me. But we can talk about that. Let's talk about down time. The system from time to time, even in the course of the day, seems to have its quirks and problems in terms of access to the system. Or, sometimes it is running, sometimes it is not. Has that improved over the course of the past year?
I would say yes. I'm not sure. Can you tell me more about it? Are you talking about e-mail as the system that you are talking about, or just the network itself?
I mean, I am 198 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 obviously using the internet from time to time. That's a wonderful tool. I am glad that Al Gore invented it. But from time to time it seems, I mean, you either can't get in or tremendously slow. It seems that our system is actually pretty quick. But there are times throughout the course of the day, and oftentimes in the, kind of, off hours, times after about 5:00 or 6 o'clock, where I don't know whether you are, you know, maintaining it, overhauling it, updating it, talking to it. Whatever it is you are doing to it, it affects the service.
Yes, we do do our system maintenance after hours, being after 6 o'clock, and that could impact. We also do a lot of work in the security area, because of computer viruses. And, so, that's the time that we will also do the checking, in that time frame. We run heavy production runs, say our financial runs, our payroll runs, and those, in the off hours. So it may be a network issue that caused the slow-down. 199 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 But we have really improved, actually, in the amount of up-time and the number of outages that we have had over these last two years.
Let's talk a little bit about security issues and passwords. Passwords seem to be good for, what, about three, four months?
Why is that? Why do you make up keep changing them so much?
Again, it is a network industry practice and standard to eliminate someone -- we have had instances where people actually write their passwords on little stickies and put them on their computers. And it is very easy for someone to be walking by and pick those up. So we marginalize our potential for break-ins and access into information. It is a standard security practice.
It is kind of like that, I saw it the other night, I think it is like in Annie Hall, where the person is saying they forgot their mantra. I mean, that's kind of why people probably write their passwords down. 200 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 But we then find ourselves, though, at least in terms of accessing LegiStar, that you then have to give your password to someone in order to maintain access to LegiStar. And I always thought, I mean, that your password was kind of a, you know, triple double secret kind of thing that you are not supposed to give out to other people. Are you aware of that? You actually have to give it to a person?
I am not familiar with LegiStar. Is there what I call a dialogue window that comes up and asks you for your name and password, or do you give it to an individual?
One last question about some of the contracts. I am in 7-24 and 7-25. It seems that you use a significant 201 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 number of vendors for what you do. Has that been the standard practice in MOIS over the years?
Yes, it has been. Although, we have actually reduced the number of vendors.
What is this Philly Neighborhoods online web site? What is that?
That is work with the Institute for the Study of Civic Values that maintains the Philly Blocks web site that works with block captains. There are about 200, two to three hundred that reside on a server. They have the ability to send issues, questions, to the city. We respond back through what is called the List Serve. And, we support them in their work. They do outreach into the community in connection with the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. But, it is in support. 202 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Why wouldn't people just contact us through the -- and I commend you for it -- the new and improved city web site? I mean, why would we have a totally separate system?
Well, they actually get to that. But, there is somebody that has to manage it. One of the other issues is, we allow public dialogue, which we don't want to -- the city should not be involved in overseeing that. And, so, that's done by this independent group.
So we are paying someone, we are paying the institute, to maintain a web site for citizens to be able to talk to each other, or talk to the government?
And they do outreach. They go actually work with the faith-based groups to help get them connected. So they do a lot of public outreach as a part of that. I believe they also have the public safety block captains are involved in this, as well. 203 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
You can actually get to it from the city's web site. But you sign up and register, and then you can go and have --
So you are saying there is a link somewhere on the city's web site that makes reference to this?
See, I would much rather be checking that out than archiving e-mails. That's the way I would rather spend my time. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. 204 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Since we are on this, I just wanted to go back. Last year Councilman Nutter brought that same question up about being able to access remotely. I started this process and was told that -- and again, if you think he doesn't know a lot about computer technology, I am worse. I couldn't believe it when one of my staff told me that -- they have AOL that has modern technology -- that they couldn't do their e-mail from home because their technology was superior to what we have. Fire walls and every obstacle, booby traps. And we are still no further along in one year than we were. Give you a perfect example. Whenever I call about my credit card or to some company, they fax me things as I am talking to them. They will say, "We will send you a copy of your invoice." Bingo, it comes out of my home fax machine. I asked my office manager, I said, "You know, it is interesting. When you are typing a letter, can you fax a copy, that unsigned letter, to me so I can get it?" 205 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 "Oh, we can't do that." Well, do we have a group -- and, again, I have been asking this question about three years in a row, about office automation. Could I please have someone from your department come and look at my operation and try to make me more efficient? I don't know about these things, that's why we have you. And I really, really would like to figure out -- I see somebody over there shaking their head that's understanding what I am saying here about why I can't access e-mail because they have 4 point something versus AOL, something else. And all I know is, it doesn't work. And I would think after a whole year of talking about this, that we should be able, on a snow day, a blizzard, when we can't move from Point A to Point B, that we still can try to help some folks and have access to the information. I mean, we didn't even get beyond e-mail, let alone looking up a document. So, why can't we fax something? Why can't one of my staff fax a letter? They have to print it, they have to take it over to a fax 206 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 machine, and fax it. For years now I have had people 4 faxing me things from their computer, but I am told, 5 "We don't do that." 6
We can do that. And we would 7 be happy to meet with your office and discuss office 8 automation. 9 The AOL, I can't help you on. It is a 10 proprietary system. And so, you know, the access -- 11 you can't run both at the same time. 12 But I can certainly work with your 13 office to help set up and go over some of the other 14 issues that you are having. 15
What I was trying to 16 explain was that, on a weekend, my office manager 17 wanted to be able to check his e-mail, especially 18 when it was very cold and snowy, to see if we had 19 any advisories from the government. And he has AOL 20 at home. And he was told that your department was going to give them something to load into the computer. But because he is already on AOL, it won't work, because it is not compatible with -- that gentleman over there -- do you know what I am 207 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 talking about? Could you come up here and explain it in English? I am serious. Would you come us just for a second come up here? AUDIENCE MEMBER: You are doing a great job, Councilman, and they understand.
You understand what I am saying, or do I really need him?
All I am telling you is I feel as though if I have been doing some of these things before I even got to Council, and that I am here and I can't do any of this stuff, like faxing something from the screen, I feel like I am in some third-world country some days. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other questions from any members of the committee? Thank you all so very much. Mayor's Office of Community Services is next. Mr. Blakney, we have copies of your 208 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 testimony. We would appreciate your summarizing, if you will, and the stenographer will be given a complete copy of your testimony.
Certainly, Madam President. First I would just like to give honor to God for this day and thank everyone that is assembled for their being here. In summarizing, Madam President, I would like to say that I am Ralph Preston Blakney, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Services. I am accompanied by Reverend Clarence Hester, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director; Eva Gladstein, Executive Director of the Empowerment Zone; and a host of others. Included in that host of others today are a number of staff people from the Mayor's Office of Community Services, and there are a number of people who have actually been serviced by MOCS. And, if time permits, we would ask if one or two of the people who have come, who have been serviced, if they would be given an opportunity to address this you august body. 209 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 President Verna, on behalf of MOCS' clientele, Advisory Board, and staff, I applaud the progressive work of this Council. I thank this Council is continually participating in MOCS' programs and events. If it were not for the support and encouragement of this Council, longstanding programs such as the West Oak Lane Center and the Foster Grandparent Program would not have serviced thousands of low-income seniors over the last 31 and 38 years respectively. Thank you for being a Council that cares about the self-sufficiency of all residents of this city. The Mayor's Office of Community Services, hereafter referred to as MOCS, requests an FY '04 appropriation of $29,282,935; $28,502,802 from the Grants Revenue Fund; and $780,133 from the General Fund. And, as you have stated, the rest of the information you have in hand. I would just like to say that Ms. Eva Gladstein can give a brief of the testimony regarding the Empowerment Zone, after which we will 210 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 be happy to take any questions.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Eva Gladstein. I am Executive Director of both the Empowerment Zone and the Renewal Community Initiative. The budget that we are requesting right now is $17,710,364 for Fiscal Year '04; $663,203 from the General Fund and $17,047,161 in the Grants Fund. Since you have written testimony, I will summarize just to say that the Empowerment Zone has spent the last year working on the sustainability of its programs and to ensure that we are leaving a legacy for the Empowerment Zone communities in North, West Philadelphia. And we have worked on the establishment of neighborhood funding streams that will enable grants to be available to these communities past the Empowerment Zone designation. And as in the past, our three community lending institutions have been making loans for business expansion and to attract new businesses into the Empowerment Zone. 211 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 The total number of loans that have been made to date are 142 loans. 27 of those loans were made in the last year. We have also been working in support of the Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative using Empowerment Zone resources to serve in the development of models for some of the work, most importantly in the treatment of vacant land in our neighborhoods. And, finally, I would like to give, because it is a newer program, a brief report on the Renewal Community Program. Just about one year ago Philadelphia was informed that we had won this competitive program through HUD, where we were one of 40 communities that is able to enjoy a new set of federal task incentives. There are five different task incentives that are available to 42 census tracks throughout Philadelphia. It has enabled us to expand greatly the geographic region that can benefit from this type of program beyond the Empowerment Zone. In December 2002 we made the first round of awards through the one competitive task incentive 212 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 available, called the Commercial Revitalization Deduction. And ten businesses were able to accelerate depreciation on the rehabilitation of building or the new construction of buildings. In this calendar year, there will be another $12 million available, and so on through 2009. So we have appreciated the support from Council in referring businesses to us, and ask that you continue to work with us in partnership on that, on the development of that program. And, with that, I will close.
Thank you very much. Mr. Blakney, will your department have any involvement with the NTI program? And, if so, what services will you be providing?
We have a number of staff people who comprise our community engagement unit. That unit does take direction from -- when we talk about FY 'O2, it took direction from the MDO. And now there is some transitioning going on and there will be some direction coming from the Mayor's Office. They are primarily responsible for 213 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 helping to arrange community meetings. They also provide some intake services; that's intake of complaints regarding NTI. They also are involved in, you know, going out and just helping people to understand what the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative is all about, as well as what certain things will be happening as they occur.
So if in fact there will be, say, demolition of, maybe, seven or eight properties in one street, your office is going to go out and let the neighbors know about that?
What I am saying is that they are equipped to do that. And it would be dependent upon what the MDO or the Mayor's Office determines is the best way to communicate that. We have the capacity to provide that service. But we are available to provide that on an ongoing basis, if that is deemed the direction of the Mayor's Office and the MDO.
On of your testimony you list various services afforded through MOCS. Would you please give us an overview of 214 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 your job-readiness workshops, job fairs, and job-retention services, also the youth conflict resolution program, and truancy prevention program.
I would like to refer that to the, at least the first part of that question, to the director of our supportive work program, Leon Simmons, who will address the job-readiness portion of it.
The MOCS Workwise Program offers job retention and also job fairs, as well as job-retention services for customers who attend the program by direct referral from the county's Assistance office. Aside from the job-retention services, the program also provides --
I am sorry. I can't hear you. Would you speak closer into the mike, please.
Much better. Thank you. 215 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
The MOCS Workwise Program provides job-readiness training, job fairs, and job-search training for customers referred directly by the Philadelphia County Assistance Office.
In conjunction with the job fair and the job-readiness training, we also provide conflict-resolution training for all of our customers that are enrolled into the program.
And tell us about your job-readiness workshops. How many do you have? Where are they located?
They are located at 1231 North Broad Street, and we have 12 classes per year comprising of 4 weeks. 216 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Once again, those classes are strictly geared towards customers who have been referred by the Department of Public Welfare.
Well, our whole premise is trying to get our customers ready for the world of employment. Basically, trying to get them to understand what the potential employers will be looking for once they are out there shopping themselves out for jobs, job retention. So we focus in on specifically what this customer will need to know in terms of retaining their job.
How many people are serviced under that? What type of training do they get? Are we giving them computer training? What type of training are those people getting, and how many people have been trained within the last year?
530 people have been trained within the last year. The training, once again, consists of 217 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 job-preparation training. We sit them down, review, if in fact they have a current resume, if they have applied at any jobs previously, what the followup was from that initial job contact. On top of that, we also offer computer training. Our customers are enrolled in computer classes for weeks for those that have an interest 9 in exploring computers. 10
So of the 530 clients 11 that you mentioned, how many of them have gotten 12 computer training?
We just opened up the computer lab back in September of this year, so right now our current enrollment for computer training is 100. 103, to be exact.
So the 430 clients that came in simply submitted a resume and an application, or do you look for employment for them?
Sure. A customer enrolls into our program. They attend classes, the job-readiness classes, for 218 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 four weeks. After the four weeks, they are then referred over to the job-search classes. And upon entering the job-search classes, that is when they are actually in contact with job developers who will then develop employment opportunities for them. Upon them receiving the jobs, then we apply what's known as job-retention services. And that's, basically, following the customer who has been employed for anywhere from six months up to a year. And the services are all geared towards city residents.
Thank you. Can we have some discussion about the Youth Conflict Resolution Program and the Truancy Prevention Program, please?
Madam President, I would like to have that question addressed by the Director of our Safe School, Safer Communities Program, Mr. Malik Aziz.
Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman. Good afternoon, Council Members. We do with the Safe Schools, Safer 219 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Communities Program is, we have a program that goes into the schools, into the communities, and into the recreation centers, and after-school programs and work around the area of conflict resolution, peer mediation. We do special-interest groups with the young people. We use all kind of techniques and theories, and working with young people to come to school and to be creative in the school, to keep them in school, and to work around the areas of violence prevention and conflict resolution in the schools.
Are you still going to Audenreid? Because I know that the problems aren't going to be corrected by one or two visits.
Well, what we are doing right now is, we are trying to arrange a community meeting with the parents. Again, now, they tried to have a -- they had a meeting with the parents the school district 220 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 had arranged, and they didn't get a good response. So what we are doing is, we are working with the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network to go in the neighborhood, in the Tasker homes, in the surrounding areas, to get the parents out to this meeting that we are going to have with the new principal, Ms. Young, Dr. Young is there now, and also other resources and other agencies that we network with to come in to try to resolve these problems they are having at Audenreid to the end of the school year. So what we are also doing is trying to work, trying to help develop a safe arrival, safe departure, which is called the SASD Program, which is a Safe Corridors Program; where students come to school in the morning and leave school in the evening, that they have safe passage back and forth.
Well, they had this for a little bit of time; but because of lack of participation from parents and adults, it faded away. But we are going to try to reenergize 221 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 that and put that back in the plan right now.
Thank you. Can we talk about the Truancy Prevention Program, please?
To respond to that question, I would like to call up the Director of the Frankford Family Development Center, Mr. Steven Blackburn. MOCS does operate two family centers, and we are involved in addressing the issue of truancy through both of those centers.
Good afternoon, Madam President. My name is Steven Blackburn. I am Program Director for the Frankford Family Development Center. Our truancy initiative, truancy prevention initiative, we have a contract with the Department of Human Services, Division of Community-Based Prevention Services, Office of Truancy Prevention. And through that contract, we have two case managers on staff. Their job is to provide the truancy-prevention services. Each month we receive a court listing from DHS with the listing of children from the 222 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Frankford cluster -- those are the youth we deal with -- who have reached a threshold of absences 4 or more. 5 Our case managers go out to the homes, 6 make contacts with these families. And we do a 7 pre-court assessment. So when these children are 8 listed for the regional truancy courts, our case 9 managers are there to represent them, to make a 10 recommendation, what are the issues involved which 11 caused the truancy, can it be handled on a 12 community-base setting, or whether that matter needs 13 to be referred to Family Court. 14 Our truancy prevention effort also 15 includes a program at the Harding Middle School 16 which targets 15 at-risk youth from the Harding 17 Middle School and provides services over a two-year 18 period for these children who are considered 19 particularly at risk. 20 Also, each year we conduct a truancy 21 awareness campaign in March -- for the past two 22 years we have done it in March -- going to schools, 23 bringing activities and information to the children 24 about staying in school. 25
Eva, can you tell us 223 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 how much interaction you will have with the NTI team?
Gladly. We participate in a monthly gathering of the agencies that work on community development in the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, and so that we are briefing each other and trying to coordinate efforts as much as possible. Some of the ways that we have coordinated, as I mentioned briefly, is that we have funded in our American Street neighborhood a Vacant Land Stabilization Program, which we are now funding in north And West Philadelphia, as well. And that program has helped provide a lot of information to the city for its citywide strategy for treating vacant land. That's one example. We are also making sure that the work we do in terms of housing development or site assembly for commercial development is integrated with Neighborhood Transformation Initiative plans and are consistent with that planning process.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter. 224 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Thank you, Madam President. Let me just ask a couple of general questions so I can get a better handle on some of the activities, and then I have some specific questions that I would like to get into. First, how many people work at MOCS?
According to the Personnel Department -- talking about Central Personnel -- according to Central Personnel, as of 12/31/02, there were 289 employees of MOCS.
289. Okay. And is that what is being supported by the $29,282,935? Who all does that include?
The overall majority of the 289 is being supported by the -- well, they are all being supported by the $29,282,000, that's correct.
But for budget purposes here, from the testimony, again, MOCS seems to be a total budget of 11 million five, Empowerment Zone, 17 seven. So can you split out the 289 between those two entities? 225 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
I can't furnish you with that right now. I have to get back to you with that, but the majority are on MOCS payroll. When you say, "MOCS," you are speaking about the people who work in the programs, as opposed to EZ; is that correct?
Yes. The first of the testimony lays out MOCS programs, General Fund dollars, 116,000; Grants Fund 11 million four; total, 11 five. Then you have it broken out Empowerment Zone, General Fund, $663,000; Grants Fund, 17 million; total, 17 seven; Total total, $29,282,935. I am taking from that that there are a certain number of people who work and are on the payroll for MOCS at the 11 million five number, and then there are a certain number of people who are on the Empowerment Zone payroll at 17 seven. My question is, how many people work for MOCS for the 11 five, and how many people work for 226 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 the Empowerment Zone at 17 seven? That's my question.
At this time we could give you the number for EZ. I cannot give you the number for MOCS program staff as of 12/31 because that figure is constantly changing. I'm not sure of who Central Personnel was counting at the time.
Give me the end of the year. Give me somewhere in the course of the fiscal year. I mean, you run MOCS and Ms. Gladstein runs the Empowerment Zone; correct? We have got a number of 289. Now, everybody must know how many people work for them within one or two bodies.
I think Ms. Gladstein has been very eager to answer the question.
In the budget, in the budget, there are 18 staff people for -- 19 for EZ. So we can separate the 19 out, which would leave 270 MOCS employees.
Well, I am sure that 19 people -- I mean, if this is correct, then I am 227 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 clearly in the wrong line of business. Because if those people are 4 supporting a payroll of $17 million, then you've got 5 some salaries in the Empowerment Zone. And, do you 6 have any openings? 7
Most of that money is not 11 for salaries. And Eva Gladstein can explain to you 12 the EZ' breakdown of resources. 13
I would appreciate it. 16 We have, as stated, 19 staff members. 17 For Fiscal Year '04, they would be supported by 18 $545,150 out of the General Fund. 19 They are also supported by two grant sources. And there is $250,000 of community service -- actually, three grant sources: Community Services Block Grant, a grant from the William Penn Foundation, and through the Empowerment Zone Grant. So the total of General Fund that's going towards Empowerment Zone staff salaries is 228 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 $545,150.
How does that comport with the $663,203 in the testimony?
The additional funds are for paper, printing, Xerox machine, postage, communications. So we have approximately $123,000 for nonpersonnel costs that are supported through the General Fund.
Okay. Well, I guess I want to go back to my original question. What I am not understanding is, Mr. Blakney, you are the Director of MOCS; Ms. Gladstein, you are the Director of the Empowerment Zone. Mr. Blakney, for the moment at least, I mean, you are indicating that you don't know how many people work on your side of the agency; is that correct?
I am saying that as of the end of the year, according to Central Personnel, was 289. And the budget does reflect that there were 19 employees at Empowerment Zone. Which would leave 270. 229 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
And I appreciate the Central Personnel records. But, you are the director; right?
Then on -17 under Mayor's Office of Community Services, Grants Revenue, the FY '03 budget shows you having 173 budgeted positions. It shows you, on the run that the chief of staff mentioned earlier that was done, I am assuming, for all departments 11/02, showed you at 151. And for Fiscal '04 you are showing budgeted positions 199. Tell me what happened to the rest of the people, or where else they may be listed?
There are people who are actually hired through General Funds, as well. And some of these people would be on General Fund budget, and not necessarily Grant Funds.
You can't have that 230 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 many. You only have $116,930 of General Fund money. You know, I mean, that can only support so many people. I am assuming your salaries are probably, possibly, in the 30, 40 range? I mean, that's like four people.
That's correct. But what actually happens is that there are expenditure transfers done between agencies.
Okay. Well, I have heard a little bit about transfer ordinances from time to time. I don't remember seeing you guys over here recently.
Is this part of the normal transfer ordinance process, or do you guys have a separate process that doesn't involve us?
No, we don't have a separate process. But there are people who, for example, who work with the Vacant Lot Program who are city employees, and they are hired through MOCS. We handle the personnel matters for 231 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 them. We also ensure that they are processed on to the city. And we are reimbursed for those employees.
I understand and appreciate all that. I am just trying to figure out how many people work for the agency, where I would find them in the budget book. And you made reference to the hiring of certain individuals, and that they are city employees. Should I take from your statement that some of the people who work for MOCS are city employees and some are not? I thought all the people who worked for MOCS are city employees?
Everyone who works for MOCS is a city employee. I was not differentiating them; I was only saying that they are city employees.
Okay. So they are on the city payroll. And how they get paid, whether it is Grant Funds or General Fund dollars, really makes no 232 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 difference. They are city employees; right?
So they are subject to all the normal rules and regulations for city employees?
Okay. And so now you are telling me the number is 270, at least according to Central Personnel?
Total, 289. All right. Now, how many employees did you have last year?
Last year I believe we reported 302 or five approximately. I'm not sure. It was in that area.
Were the others laid 233 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 off or terminated or were these positions that weren't filled?
What happens at MOCS is that, with our people who are supported by Grant Funds, every year we actually submit a proposal to the grantors. And that proposal is based on the needs and services that MOCS has to deliver.
We get a substantial amount of money from the Department of Community and Economic Development. And the overwhelming majority of the staff who are supported by DCED actually are in various programs. You have heard from some of the program directors. Their staff primarily are supported by funds from the Department of Community and Economic Development through the Community Services Block Grant.
Are those just state 234 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 dollars or is it coming from the state via the federal government?
Now, let me go back to -17. Can you tell me again, in FY 03, the original appropriation covered full-time and part-time employees, a total of 173. That's on 6-17. When the run was done in 11/02, it showed 151. Now, does that mean you had unfilled 17 positions -- or 22, rather? 18
It would mean that we had 19 a number of vacancies. 20 There is some level of -- 21
Okay. All right. And then for FY '04, you are showing, on -17, 235 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 199 positions, the increase being 48 new positions.
Our level of staff primarily is related to the proposals that we write to our grantors. There are X number of people who are hired who the agency is actually reimbursed for their work by other departments and agencies within the city.
So you are anticipating, at least according to the document here, hiring 48 more people in the course of the next fiscal year?
I am anticipating that the staffing level will be in accordance with the Grant Funds that we receive, as well as the plans to hire people with General Funds, for which the agency will be reimbursed.
Now, you have mentioned a couple of times that your staffing levels are tied in to the proposals that you write to the grantors. Although I am aware through the CDBG process -- and I thought the same applied to the CSBG -- that it was formula driven based on a 236 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 variety of factors of census and poverty whatever else they take into consideration. So is it that you can bring on as many people as you want based on the quality of the grant proposal, or is it that there is a certain amount of money that's allocated to Philadelphia through this block grant program, similar to what comes through the CDBG program? I mean, it is my understanding that we are actually going to see about a $5 million decrease in funds on the CDBG side. How is it that you guys keep getting more and more money?
I mean, we are dealing with all the same census figures.
You are correct, when we are talking about the CSBG funds, that they are formula driven. But it is also important to note that, with those funds, the agency, Administration, has the flexibility to determine how those funds are going to be used to best address the needs of the people of this city. In other words, if we are given $100, 237 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 and we are able to hire ten people, you know, with that money, as long as we are accomplishing our mission with that money, that's fine. If we were only able to hire five people because we needed people with a greater level of expertise, and they demanded a higher salary, that, too, would be okay, as long as we are in keeping with our mission. And we also need to keep in mind that all the proposals that we submit are actually approved by the grantor, so that they meet the guidelines of the grantors.
Now, how many of your staff or employees are here with us today?
Can we have a show of hands of everybody that works in MOCS. (Audience members raise hands).
Now, are we anticipating receiving testimony from all these individuals? I mean, is that why they are here?
No, sir. We have a number of people who have been serviced by the agency who 238 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 had an interest in these proceedings. And they were informed that they could attend, that this was an open hearing. Many of them, arrangements were made by --
It is certainly open to members of the general public, and we are always pleased to have the public here. Generally, for us, "the public" means people who are not on the payroll. And if members of the public want to come and testify, I think the president has established a schedule and a protocol for nongovernment employees to come and talk about the budget hearings. I guess I was trying to understand from a couple of hours ago, when the room started to fill up, why we had so many government people here, most of whom I am anticipating are not going to be giving testimony. I just didn't understand why we had so many folks here with us. Always pleased to see other public servants. But, I mean, there is probably not much work to do in this room.
Right. I mean, your point 239 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 is duly noted. There are a number of staff people here who, through their work, they have developed relationships with people in various communities. And they are here to make sure that the people who have been serviced by MOCS and people who represent different communities, that they got here safely and that they were able to locate the room. We are also concerned about people getting home. There were a number of people who were actually driven here by van, okay, where we may have wait for them to come. We did not know the time that these proceedings would end. And, so, we do have some concern for making sure that they return to their homes safely. And so there are staff here who, you know, are involved in making sure that that occurs.
I can appreciate that. And, again, I am sure all of us enjoy the participation of the public and the public servants. I would only note for you that, for instance, when the Police Commissioner comes, he usually certainly brings a few deputies and maybe a 240 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 couple of inspectors, and those kinds of folks. But he couldn't bring the whole contingent of the 19th Police District out to a Public Hearing. Because I actually rather enjoy that those officers are out on the street, as opposed to spending the day or the afternoon with me. Let me ask this question: With regard to the 289 people, can you get us a list of all of the staff, their name, their title, their date of employment, and their salary?
Thank you. And there was discussion a little while ago about some of the training programs. And I was interested in where the training actually takes place. I think it was mentioned that there were 12 trainings done a year? This was in response to questions that were asked by Council President.
The Supportive Work Program is located at 1231 North Broad Street.
1231 North Broad? 241 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03