VENICE CITY SCENE April 2017 a Publication for the Employees of the City of Venice, Florida
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VENICE CITY SCENE April 2017 A Publication for the Employees of the City of Venice, Florida Venice City Scene is published by email. Please send news items to Public Information Officer Lorraine Anderson at [email protected]. Teens at the helm for Student Government Day On March 6, teens took over City Hall. Twenty-one students from Venice High School participated in this year’s Ven- ice Student Government Day. Teens began arriving at 8 a.m. that Monday and assembled in Council Chambers for welcome remarks and a brief orientation with City Council Members, Department Directors and Charter Officers. The stu- dents were given commemorative T-shirts, then teamed up with Council Mem- bers, Directors and Charter Officers to learn their roles for a few hours. Some students got tours of City Hall; others spent time in staff offices. Each got a unique experience of a city workday. Sandra Elsadek, who was paired up with Police Chief Mattmuller, got suited up over at VPD and deployed a Taser on Training Officer Dan Schuler. A video clip is posted on the city’s Facebook page (at Venice, Florida Municipal Government). Tre Harris, who shadowed IT Director Jeff Bolen, got an "official" city employee Above, VHS students conduct a mock ID card, which are produced in that department. City Council meeting on March 6 for Airport Director Mark Cervasio arranged a tour of Agape Flights for his student, Venice Student Government Day, led Jack Farrell, who was also able to sit in some aircraft. Agape delivers cargo, mail by “Mayor” Ravi Patel. At left, student and humanitarian aid to missionary partners in countries including Haiti and the Jack Farrell attends orientation in Council chambers with Airport Direc- Dominican Republic. tor Mark Cervasio. Continued on page 2 Page 2 Venice City Scene April 2017 Above, VHS students with the Council Members, Department Directors and Charter Officers they were paired with on March 6. At left, Sandra Elsadek learns how to correctly deploy a Taser from VPD Training Officer Dan Schuler and Chief Tom Mattmuller. Student Govt. Day, continued from page 1 supervising Council Member discussion. Student Government Day “is something you don’t get to Avani Patel was paired with city PIO Lorraine Anderson. do often,” Ravi told the Venice Gondolier. “The city man- Avani took some photos in Heritage Park and downtown ger (Ed Lavallee) said we got to see how our parents’ tax that immediately went up on the city’s social media. dollars are being spent. That’s a great way of looking at it.” Following a pizza and salad lunch, students held a mock Under the guidance of VHS Student Government adviser City Council meeting, tackling subjects such as regulation Mia Slaton, other teen participants were Andrea Stultz, of city employees’ appearance, public WiFi access in Cen- Erika Martineau, Madison Kern, Payton Pissano, Lucy tennial Park, purchase of a police K-9, and using grant Sensemen, Ashley Kot, Madison Culligan, Kristina Young, funds to purchase drones. Makenna Burns, Lorett Alarcon, Jillian Alexander, Aubrey Student Ravi Patel, in his fourth year participating in the Duyn, Arianna Huffman, Paige Godfrey, Heather Braswell program, served as Mayor. He did a thoroughly profession- and Thomas Wildermuth. al job of moving the meeting along, calling for votes and See more photos, page 5 Page 3 Venice City Scene April 2017 Above, Council Member Kit McKeon with Madi- son Kern. At right, Tre Harris, who shadowed IT Above, Venice High student Jillian Alexander enjoys a pizza and salad lunch with Director Jeff Bolen, shows off his new city em- Finance Director Linda Senne, who she was paired with for the day. Below, Coun- ployee ID card, which are produced in that de- cil Member Jeanette Gates speaks with student Lucy Senseman at lunch. partment. Below, Andrea Stulz talks city gov- ernment over lunch with Vice Mayor Rich Cau- tero. Page 4 Venice City Scene April 2017 BUS Token recipients Bravo for Ultimate Service is an employee incentive program based on Tawnie Murdock, Police the PRIDE (Productive, Responsible, Innovative, Dedicated, Ethical) initia- Michelle Newman, Finance tive adopted by City Council. It rewards employees for going above and Bill Long, Police beyond. Ryan Burns, Engineering Once an employee collects five BUS Tokens, he or she can turn them in Jimmy Bennett, Utilities to Administrative Services for $50. Vadim Bugayev, Utilities BUS Tokens were recently awarded to: Judy Gamel, City Manager’s Office Karen Butterworth, Development Services Mercedes Barcia, City Clerk’s Office Darren Addy, Utilities Dennis Rodriguez, Utilities John Monville, Engineering (2) Mike Catalano, Utilities Anniversaries Welcome to the Team The following employees celebrate one of the 5-year The following employees recently started working for the milestones of employment with the city: city: Bryan Homan, Fire, March 6 15 YEARS Marion Pace, ASD, March 22 Anthony Ramirez, Utilities/Dist/Collection, April 1 Jon Watson, Historical Resources, March 27 Timothy Olsen, Utilities, April 29 Damien Stillings, Utilities/Dist/Collection, May 2 Page 5 Venice City Scene April 2017 2017 City of Venice Employee Satisfaction Survey Results (on the basis of 45 responses) 1. In my job, I have clearly defined, attainable goals. City Employee 2. I have the tools and resources to do my job well. 3. I feel encouraged to come up with new and better ways of doing things. 4. My work gives me a feeling of personal accomplishment. Satisfaction 5. My job makes good use of my skills and abilities. 6. I am informed about departmental issues. Survey Results 7. I am informed about city issues. 8. The city’s employee performance appraisal system is fair. 9. My department’s promotional system is fair. 2017 10. I have access to sufficient training opportunities. 11. I am fairly paid for doing my job. 12. My pension benefit is good. 13. My healthcare benefit is good. 14. I have the opportunity to make a positive difference at work. 15. Overall, I am satisfied with my job. Employee Satisfaction Survey Results 5.00 4.56 4.52 4.52 4.48 4.45 4.33 4.42 4.50 4.11 4.16 4.00 3.99 4.00 3.78 3.85 3.85 3.42 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Page 6 Venice City Scene April 2017 CITIZENS ACADEMY The VPD Citizens Police Academy is an 11-week pro- gram for interested individuals to help understand local law enforcement practices. The Academy is free and encompasses hands-on scenarios allowing an insightful experience of a “day in the life of an officer.” Week 5 on March 8 covered Crime Scene/ Evidence with Crime Scene Investigator Cheryl Prevatte and Tawnie Murdock. During Week 6 on March 15, the topic was Firearms with Sgt. Eugene Frangioni. Marine Patrol was covered with Marine Officer Paul Joyce for Week 7 on March 18, and Sgt. Mathew Sauchinitz and Officer David Creasy covered SITE ops/Narcotics and Active Shooter Scenarios on Week 8, March 22. See more photos, page 7 Page 7 Venice City Scene April 2017 CITIZENS ACADEMY Page 8 Venice City Scene April 2017 Venice Museum & Archives gets new Curator Jon Watson from the Florida Keys has been dated interpretation panels within museum exhib- dedicated to preserving Venice’s tremendous histo- named the new Curator and Collections Manager at its, and maintained, cleaned and monitored arti- ry as we move forward and continue to grow as a the Venice Museum & Archives. facts within exhibits. great city. Watson, 34, was most recently the Museum As- “I could not be more excited Watson was also the Collections Manager at the sistant at the History of Diving Museum in Islamora- about being hired by the City of City of Farmington, N.M., Museum from September da, Fla., a post he held since September 2016. His Venice as its new Collections 2011 to August 2013, where he was the point per- duties there involved assisting in day-to-day opera- Manager and Curator,” Watson son for managing and overseeing the intake and tions including sales, programming, membership, said. “I feel very fortunate to organization of a collection of over 12,000 objects. collections and curatorial services. He ran and man- have been offered this wonderful He was also responsible for the organization of all aged gift shop sales, admissions, stocking, museum position in such a gorgeous city archival material including accessioning, storing, guest orientation and membership applications. WATSON that is so entrenched in signifi- describing, documenting and housing the materials. Watson also researched current collections and up- cant cultural history. I am very Continued on page 9 Pace returns to HR Manager post Marion Pace has returned to work for the City of Venice in her role as Hu- “We are delighted to have Marion Pace back as the city’s HR Manager,” said man Resources Manager for the Administrative Services Department. Pace Alan Bullock, Director of Administrative Services. “She was not given the job; previously worked for the City from January to June 2016 as she had to earn it again through the application and interview process, which HR Manager, leaving the post to be with family. she did in fine style, impressing the joint ASD/Finance selection panel among a Pace, who is originally from upstate New York, also strong field of candidates.” worked as HR Director for Heidmar Inc. in Norwalk, Conn., “I am very happy to be back with the City of Venice,” Pace said. “The City is from 2004-2014.