A Human Resources Newsletter
April 2022
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The Human Resources Newsletter will be highlighting
the staff and accomplishments within the divisions of the
eight departments at the City of Roswell
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. . . Building Operations Division. . .
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The goal at Building Operations (BOPS) is to provide safe, clean, well-maintained, and comfortable space for use by employees, elected officials, and the public. This division oversees the maintenance of many of the City’s buildings including:
- City Hall
- Law Enforcement Center
- Police Training Building
- Ripley Building
- Water/Stormwater Building
- Water Treatment Plant
- Fire Headquarters
- Transportation
- Public Works Building
- Recycling Center
- Wellness Center
- Fire labs
In addition, BOPS manages all remodeling and construction, City-wide Facility Condition Assessment projects, standby trades, and vendor programs, as well as providing daily mail and package delivery, and collection. The best way to contact Building Operations is to e-mail BuildingOperations@roswellgov.com.
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Art Lewis, Building Operations Manager
Art began working for the City of Roswell in 1994 as a Technician. He was promoted to Supervisor in 1999 and to Manager in 2017. He served in the U.S. Army and has extensive experience with building, grounds, and equipment maintenance, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems and components, carpentry, HVAC systems, and vehicle maintenance. In his spare time, Art enjoys visiting the beach and watching sci-fi movies. He can be reached at alewis@roswellgov.com.
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Lisa Hines, Building Operations Coordinator
Lisa has worked for the City of Roswell for 11 years and for the past year as Building Operations Coordinator. She has previously worked in Administration and Environmental/Public Works. Lisa is responsible for invoice payments, Facilities Condition Assessment purchase orders and project coordination, scheduling, surplus items, writing bid documents, creating work orders, oversight of the mail room, and communicating with staff and vendors. Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Management from Hodges University, Fort Myers, FL. She is a proud grandmother of two girls, Evie Jo and Kenzie Claire, enjoys working on DIY projects with her husband Vince, and being entertained by their two Chocolate Labs, Patton and Scarlett. Lisa may be reached at lhines@roswellgov.com.
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Tim Thompson, Building Operations Supervisor
Tim supervises a team of five staff comprised of four Building Technicians and one Custodian. He is responsible for managing the work order program to ensure requests are completed in a timely manner, as well as scheduling vendors for emergencies and major repair projects. Building technicians work on tasks ranging from replacement of ceiling HVAC motors, lighting, wiring, assisting with special events and filming on city property, preparation of office space for new staff, and manage the recycling program for City Hall.
Tim was raised in Roswell and has worked for the City for 12 years. He played sports in the Roswell Recreation and Parks programs and first worked for the City in the 1980s as a part-time Recreation and Parks employee. He can be reached at tthompson@roswellgov.com.
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Eric Bielenberg, Building Technician II
Eric began working for the City in 2016. His specialty is HVAC and electrical systems, and he has over 30 years of experience in commercial building maintenance having worked in office and school campuses. Eric is a graduate of Gwinnett Technical College and holds a state license in HVAC. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and training his dog, Buddy. Eric can be reached at ebielenberg@roswellgov.com
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Kola Adelugba, Building Technician II
Kola is Building Operations’ newest team member starting work with the City in February of 2022. He has over 18 years of experience with HVAC systems, plumbing, and electrical troubleshooting, as well as commercial building general maintenance. Kola is a graduate of Georgia Piedmont Technical College and most recently worked for the Atlanta Renaissance Waverly Hotel as a Chief Building Engineer. In his spare time, he likes to work on his house, do yard work, read and cook. He can be reached at kadelugba@roswellgov.com.
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Kevin Miller, Custodian
Kevin came to work for the City in 2001. You can see Kevin working on numerous tasks throughout City Hall and the Police Department including, but not limited to, setting up meeting rooms, polishing brass, collecting recycling and shredding, and delivering packages. He is also responsible for cleaning the Wellness Center and the Archives storage building. Kevin enjoys watching movies and all sports, especially University of Georgia teams. He can be reached at kmiller@roswellgov.com.
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Ken Shook, Mail Clerk
Ken joined the city of Roswell in 2014 as one of the new House Manager’s at the Cultural Arts Center, as well as working at the Adult Recreation center. As Mail Clerk, he delivers all incoming mail and packages, as well as processing all outgoing mail for City Hall and various departments.
Ken has had numerous careers prior to joining the City: He was a professional skater with both Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice. In addition, he was co-owner of Atlanta Fitness Centers. During his free time, Ken enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and photography. He can be reached at kshook@roswellgov.com.
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Barrington Hall Daffodils
Win Awards at Flower Show
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On March 12, 2022, the Georgia Daffodil Annual Show recognized the hard work of Roswell’s own Helen Wenham, Site Horticulturist at Barrington Hall, by awarding two of her daffodils. Helen shares this honor with two of her horticulturist volunteers: Kate Copsey and Janet Rigsby.
The Georgia Daffodil Annual Show is co-sponsored by the Georgia Daffodil Society and The North Georgia Council of Flower Show Judges. The awards are as follows:
First awards:
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Campernelle (variety dating back to 1601) Daffodil Hedge (see attached poster for more info) and around the property – blooms now over.
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Double Campernelle (variety dating back to 1601) Front Azalea beds and around the property – blooms now over.
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Little Witch (variety dating back to 1921) Lower Quadrant of Formal East Garden – still blooming.
Second Award:
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Thalia (variety dating back to 1916) North Wall Bed near the Replica Gate – still blooming.
Third Award:
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W. P. Milner (variety dating back to 1869) Near the Fairy Hollow – still blooming.
Helen reminds us we are coming to an end of our Daffodil bloom time, so she recommends you visit Barrington Hall to enjoy them!
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1st Place Award
Little Witch Daffodil
(variety dating back to 1921)
Lower Quadrant of Formal East Garden
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2nd Place Award
Thalia Daffodil
(variety dating back to 1916)
North Wall Bed near the Replica Gate
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. . . Performance Evaluations . . .
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Performance Evaluation season is upon us. This is a formal opportunity for each employee to meet with their supervisor and discuss past performance and future goals.
The City of Roswell’s Annual Evaluation Cycle is from May 1 – April 30. All Full Time employees, who are receiving an Annual Evaluation, are asked to complete a Self-Evaluation and turn this into your immediate supervisor. Supervisors may request part-time employees to complete a self-evaluation, but this left up to the discretion of the supervisor. Supervisors will advise employees when the self-evaluations are due based on departmental deadlines. Supervisors begin the evaluation process for each employee, who will simultaneously receive a self-evaluation; once both are complete, the supervisor and employee will meet to discuss the evaluation.
Not sure if you need to complete a self-evaluation or will receive an evaluation? The following guidelines will assist in making that determination:
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Full Time Employees (Not in Introductory Period as of February 1)
- Complete the 2021 Employee Self-Evaluation
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Full Time Employees In Introductory Period (or it ends February 1 or after)
- Continue meeting with your immediate supervisor on the Introductory Period cycle (3, 6, 9, and 12 months)
- No need to complete the self-evaluation unless instructed by your immediate supervisor for the 12 month evaluation
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Part Time Employees Hired before February 1, 2021
- Self-evaluations not required but your supervisor may request it.
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Part Time Employees Hired after February 1, 2021
- Evaluations and self-evaluations are not required due to the recent date of hire
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. . . Roswell University . . .
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Online Training Opportunities
through SmarterU
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Performance Management
This 3-part video course teaches managers how to help their subordinates reach their highest potential. It describes the components of a performance management system and explains how to set SMART goals for performance management. In addition, viewers will learn how to hold effective coaching conversations with their employees. Ultimately, learners should understand why performance management is one of management’s primary responsibilities and why it makes such a difference to organizational results. This program is valid for 1.5 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP and 1.5 hours of recertification credit through the HR Certification Institute. This course can be found under “RU Professional Development Series” in the SmarterU Learner Dashboard.
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. . . Troy University . . .
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Troy University will host a virtual open house:
Dates: April 20th – 24th
The event is free for our partners.
Everyone who attends will receive an application fee waiver.
Troy University’s
Virtual Worldwide Open House
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Welcome March New Hires/Rehires!
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Zorana Bradic
Administrative Specialist II
Recreation & Parks
Josh Dooley
Traffic Signal Technician
Transportation
Brianna Jo Francis
Police Officer I
Police
Abigail Marsh
Program Supervisor I
Recreation & Parks
Halie Miller
Administrative Specialist II
Community Development
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Eric Nepogoda
Building Plans Reviewer
Community Development
Tom Simon
Refuse Collector
Environmental/Public Works
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Congratulations on Your Promotion!
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William Giles
Lieutenant
Police
Theodore Lawrence
Videographer
Administration
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Julie Martin
Planner III
Community Development
Kaitlyn Siberski
Police Officer II
Police
Corinne Sutherlin
Program Supervisor II
Recreation & Parks
Daniel Tyler
Police Officer II
Police
Jordan Wenslow
Sergeant
Police
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. . . Benefits/Payroll . . .
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It is tax season and many of you have questions about your Federal tax withholding. Maybe you had too little or too much withheld from your paychecks in 2021.
While the Benefits/Payroll Team is happy to help, below you will find an IRS website that can answer most of your questions.
There are several reasons to check your withholding:
- Checking your withholding can help protect against having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time next year.
- At the same time, you may prefer to have less tax withheld up front, so you receive more in your paychecks and get a smaller refund at tax time.
The IRS redesigned the W-4 form beginning in 2020. With this redesign, allowances are no longer used. Instead, questions are asked in an effort to match your withholding to your liability.
We encourage employees to use this website because it offers guidance on many frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, then employees should consult a tax advisor for further consultation. While the Payroll/Benefits team is happy to answer questions, we are not allowed to give tax advice. Taxes are complicated, and everyone’s situation is different.
ESS Update: Employees can now update their Federal and State tax withholding on ESS! The instructions are below:
- Log in to ESS
- Go to Payroll/Tax Information and click ‘W-4’
- Follow the instructions and click ‘submit’
The changes will go to Payroll for approval, and you will receive an email confirming your request has been submitted. Then, you will receive another email once it has been approved.
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HOW TO STAY COMPLIANT WITH THE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM
(and keep your $40 credit)
In order to receive the $40 wellness credit, a full-time employee hired prior to October 1, 2021 should have had a biometric screening between May and September 2021. Once your biometric screening results were received by Everside (AKA ‘HealthStat’), then you should have received a letter from Everside stating the number of wellness visits required in reference to your biometric screening results. . You will need to attend your assigned visit cadence from the Healthy Life Profile letter that you received in the mail after your HRA in 2021.
At this time, you do not need to schedule or complete an additional HRA (biometric screening) until the annual mass events. These will take place later this year in August 2022. If you do not stay compliant through the benefit year (Oct 2021-Oct 2022), then you will not qualify to receive the $40 wellness credit for the benefit year starting October 2022.
If you have not received your Healthy Life Profile Letter detailing your assigned visit cadence and/or no longer have the letter from them, please call the CORE Wellness Center (770-817-6070) and inquire about the number of visits required of you and make an appointment accordingly.
Hydee Weis will send information out in April regarding the upcoming wellness program and the mass biometric screening event. If you were hired after October 1, 2021, then you will be required to have the biometric screening at this event to continue to be part of the Employee Wellness Program.
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Next Blood Drive
May 3
You can make a difference!
Each blood donation can save up to 3 lives.
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COVID-19
For the most recent updates for international travel, contact Hydee Weis at Human Resources.
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Calendar of Wellness Classes
Here is a listing of all the wonderful opportunities at the City of Roswell
to stay healthy!
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Existing Classes
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Yoga: Enjoy the benefits of this powerful exercise for the mind and body. This class is offered on Wednesdays, from 12:00 to 1:00, at City Hall in Room 220. To sign up, contact Hydee Weis.
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Walking: Join Hydee Weis, the employee Wellness Coordinator, for a walk at the Employee Entrance City Hall at 12:00 on Tuesdays. This is a great way to get to know your coworkers! Classes are 50 minutes to 1 hour long and are low impact.
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Boot Camp/Circuit Training: Work with a personal trainer in a group setting at different exercise stations. The class will consist of activities to increase your heart rate and endurance while strengthening and building your major muscle groups. No class will ever be the same! Each class will constantly switch from Hi-Lo cardio to weight training to plyometric to ab work. Classes are Monday and Wednesday, 12:00 to 1:00, at the Bill Johnson Community Building.
Future Classes
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Cardio Fusion: This combo class includes high-impact aerobic activity—such as Latin beats, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Line Dancing. On Tuesdays, we add Body Sculpting, which includes 30 minutes of weights, focusing on arms, legs, and core. Classes are 1 hour long total. To enroll, contact hweis@roswellgov.com (Minimum number of participants: 6)
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We will be walking on
Tuesday each week!
Meet us at the “Employee Entrance” at
12:00 for a 50-minute walk.
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To All Wellness Program Participants
Your wellness program portal is open!
To register:
Once you are registered, you will have access to the City of Roswell Wellness Program. Contact portalsupport@healthstatinc.com with any program-related questions.
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Webinar
Managing Change
in Our Ever-Evolving World
It’s easy, in the face of change, to get stuck; learning the skills of adaptability can be life-changing. Join us for this session where we will discuss change management and ultimate adaptability.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
1:30 – 2:30
Register by clicking this link
Your EAP Provider Name: City of Roswell
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SmartDollar: Financial Wellness
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8 Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Life
Time management is important because, if we’re not careful, we all end up going from one type of busyness to another. It’s a never-ending hamster wheel of activity. And the problem is, we end up missing the true joy and meaning and beauty of our lives—ignoring the people and the purposes that make our lives fulfilling. By trying to do too much, we end up not doing much that even matters to us.
Here are eight time-management tips that will help you spend your life doing what’s most important to you.
1. Refuse to rush.
Rushing is a choice. We get to decide what goes on our calendar. We shouldn’t be surprised when it’s packed tight (just like an overstuffed suitcase). So, what will you choose? Will you be busy, burned out, or running ragged? Or will you be peaceful, calm and flexible? Rushing is a state of our hearts just as much as it is a state of our schedule. We have to be willing to slow down and be present.
2. Identify what’s most important to you.
Remember: Time management is not about doing more things—it’s about doing the right things at the right time. For most of us, the problem isn’t that we’re not doing enough—it’s that we’re doing too much. Focus your time and energy and resources on what’s most important to you. In his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni says, “If everything is important, then nothing is.” Your time is finite, and you have to be willing to decide what makes the cut and what doesn’t.
3. Recognize the season you’re in.
We want to do it all, be it all, and have it all, all the time. But one of the secrets of time management is to understand that we experience life in seasons. What’s most important to you when you’re trying to build your career as a young professional will be different than what’s important to you as a young parent or a retired grandparent. Just because something doesn’t make the cut in this season doesn’t mean it never will. It just means you have the wisdom to evaluate and discern what’s best for where you are in this stage of life.
4. Schedule your priorities.
Once you know what (and who) is most important to you, put them on the calendar first. For example, if you want to grow in your current role at work so you’re considered for a promotion, schedule time to study and learn. Sign up for an online class and block out time to get it done. Stick to your commitments and don’t let less important tasks distract you from the main thing.
5. Identify your time traps.
If we want to live focused and intentional lives, we need to identify the time traps that easily knock us off course. For example, I struggle with always wanting to be the hero. I try to take on everyone else’s problems as my problems, and then guess what? I’m not only overwhelmed, but I also don’t have time for my own problems! What time traps do you get sucked into? Maybe it’s scrolling social media or binge-watching shows. Maybe you’re a people pleaser or you tend to overcommit yourself. Maybe it’s something else.
6. Practice saying no.
Once you know your time traps, you need to practice saying no to the things that steal your time or don’t align with your goals. And I mean actually practice saying no—like, “No, I will not watch Netflix because I’m choosing to finish these house chores.” You don’t have to sign up for every potluck or volunteer opportunity or have a coffee date with a friend every day of the week. Keep in mind that saying no to time traps will free you up to say yes to what really matters.
7. Make room for rest.
Rest is one of the most underestimated and necessary parts of our lives. When we refuse to slow down and actually get some sleep, we slowly chip away at our ability to be productive and focused when we need to be. When you’re finished with your workday, take an actual break. Be with your family or your friends and refuse to peek at your emails or worry about the big project that’s due at the end of the week. By setting boundaries around work, you’ll end up getting more done when you’re at work.
8. Focus on one task at a time.
Multitasking is a myth. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone while they’re texting? Right. They aren’t listening. They can’t! When we try to do too many things at once, we end up doing them all poorly. Instead, give yourself permission to focus on one thing at a time and watch how your productivity increases and your stress decreases.
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SmarterU can help you with your own personal development. Explore the different courses to find one that works for you.
Setting Personal Financial Goals
“50/20/30 Rule”
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This video course can help you set personal financial goals! It is designed to help you identify the financial goals that matter most to you and make sure they happen. It will also help you prioritize your financial goals by explaining the RED formula. Finally, you will learn about budgets, including how to construct one using the 50/20/30 rule.
You can find this in “Courses by Category” under the “Personal Development” heading in the SmarterU Learner Dashboard.
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. . . City of Roswell Special Events . . .
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Here are just a few of the events coming in April:
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Walk with a Doc: A free walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. First and Third Saturdays, 8:30 AM, 2022 Schedule
- Free Fitness in the Park – Yoga: April 2-4, 9:00 AM
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Easter Egg Extravaganza at Barrington Hall, April 15, 10:00 AM, Tickets Required
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Roswell Earth Fair, Mimosa Hall, April 23, 10:00 AM
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Into the Woods Jr, Roswell Youth Theatre, April 23 (2:00 and 7:00 PM) and April 24 (2:00 PM)
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Want to Receive Roswell Employee e-Notifications?
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You can sign-up for Roswell e-notifications or change your e-notification preferences at any time! Navigate to the intranet and click “I Want To…” at the top of the page. Click “Receive Notifications by E-mail,” or click here. Simply check or un-check the boxes to start receiving calendar updates, like “City Council Meetings,” or news updates, like “Employee Classifieds.” You can also click here to change your current preferences.
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Reach Out
If you have employee news, events, etc. that you’d like to see in the next newsletter, email mmenkus@roswellgov.com
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