City Council OKs Consolidation, Budrow as HR Director

It’s official: human resources functions between the city and schools in Peabody will now be consolidated under the supervision of one director.

The City Council made some changes to city ordinances to allow for the consolidated position and a larger salary ($97,000), along with some specific job qualifications going forward.

"This was only going to be presented to you as a joint position if we had the right candidate," Mayor Ted Bettencourt told councilors Thursday night, and he strongly believes Karen Budrow is the right person for the job, which is why he hired her.

"We had a number of outstanding applicants for the position...but Karen stood out," Bettencourt said. "Her credentials are outstanding...her personality is an outstanding fit for our city."

Budrow has spent 12 years as the Director of Human Resources and Administration in Chelsea, and prior to that served in similar roles in Methuen, Everett and Gloucester, where she lives.

All agree Budrow is more than qualified to do the job, but At-Large Councilor Anne Manning-Martin wanted to write some specific requirements into the city ordinance for the post for the future.

Those qualifications include a bachelor's degree in human resources, management or a related field and five years experience as a supervisor or administrator. Some preferred qualifications include a master's degree and knowledge of municipal affairs and ordinances.

Councilors passed the ordinance changes through committee and then unanimously voted to approve them and Budrow's appointment in the full council session.

"This will be a work in progress," Bettencourt said. He has assured councilors and School Committee members that the position, and the combined offices, can be tweaked as needed if any problems arise.

Bettencourt says he is confident Budrow can draw on her experience handling school-related HR duties. In Chelsea, even though there was a separate school HR director, Budrow handled all union grievances, contract negotiations and benefits for both city and school employees.

"Because of her outstanding qualifications, I thought it was a good opportunity to try out this consolidation," Bettencourt said. He added that it should save the city about $75,000 on salaries and benefits.

Manning-Martin also wondered if a longer term would be beneficial to the post -- the city ordinance now calls for a one-year term.

"You bring somebody into manage such a large responsibility for us, at a larger salary…and they always have to look over their shoulder [in a one-year term]," she said, asking if a longer term would "allow them to sink their teeth in."

Bettencourt said that would help, but he'd rather look at that issue, along with several other city positions, at a later date with the council.

Budrow briefly took the podium herself and, expressing confidence in the plan forward, said she has "some wonderful people to work with both at City Hall and the School Department."

"Hopefuly it will work out well," she said.

Last month, the School Committee agreed to suspend the search for a new school HR director, which has been vacant since this summer, and review the consolidated position at the end of the school year rather than relinquish the school position outright.