HOLDING ON

COMING HOME WITH A DENTED IDEA OF LIFE AND TIME led into wondering where to turn next. The state proffered compensation in exchange for credentialing brought over from the prior state of residency. To oblige them was the only passage open. Papers were turned over and within one month there was an opportunity to buy a car, or at least put a deposit down. Two weeks later and the first of fifteen personality assessment exams, the requirement of attaining employment and the mandate that it be held for at least one year for a passing or near acceptable rating was issued. When scouring the local ads and following through on word of mouth referrals produced no sure-footed result, a friend from the past can and did provide. The resettling of a small-town municipal office created a gap for hiring several office personnel and tying into the ongoing "welfare reform" program bought federal and state funding to buffer new hires to any department. Office Superintendant... a friend of my mother since before my high school days... and Office Administrator... the job title given me by a long time acquaintance... mayor of the town... were brought on in the Department of Public Works along with an office assistant and two maintenance workers. A renewal of the expired Public Health Department within the municipality brought three additional positions. The Office Administrator position was guaranteed for the term of one year... long enough for the state's challenge to finalize and determine the applicant employable. It was granted and I made the most of it.

Originally aligned with the city at its cable vision studio as a volunteer working the office, I set up office accounts for payables and donations, intangible donations of property and time. I spearheaded work to improve the property accessed as the Harvey Cable Studio under Multimedia Cable. I handled the field interviews and on-site news focus for upcoming programs and paid video copy requests of local politicians. When the job offer came, I readily accepted it and shared the details of my being hired to Jerome Sidowitz, the South County area State Disability office agent. I had previously taken the exam for licensed pesticide applicator for which the results were comingled by the testing office clerk in our local 6th District Court P.O.E.T.S. program with results of the only other individual being tested. I was told to "come back."

I accepted the position I was hired to and set into the task of balancing "RFP's" ...requests for pay which had fallen behind and set in piles upon the desks in the office. Within weeks the billing statements and invoices were organized in the computer program provided. Payroll was originally typed and printed then transferred to the human resource and accounting office for payment or city administration negotiation for payments to be made. Computerizing by departments mobilized all necessary transactions including personnel time cards, vacation pay, overtime and child support or alimony. It also enabled better correspondence with vendors such as waste haulers and CDBG account files for our department, the water department vehicles, fire and police department fleets management. I attended municipal board meetings in support of the office superintendent and functioned as secondary support for special programs such as abandoned housing which correlated with the Chicago Abandoned Housing Program. With the onset of the municipal vacant and abandoned housing program assisting the Planning Director with assimilating county and property owner records for properties on a demolition list became a shared responsibility with one of the senior code enforcement officers.

Not a part of my job title but an issue which was included in former training was Parks and Recreation Planning. When a drive through our old high school area brought my attention to the condition of the municipal pool I looked into funding repairs and return to a functional level. I had been closed for several years due to structural damage. The County Parks and Recreation office of Harold Stroger suggested doing a cost analysis and returning to their office with it. I did so to the angst and frustration of the current Municipal Parks Personnel.

I was hosted out of that job at the close of one year and change of the mayoral administration.

Cleaning up on a return trip back home in the midst of a population known and slightly known is asking for a lynching. I was simply being appreciative of the favor shown by hiring me for the job... one that I enjoyed training for in college.