Towry keeps mayor’s mission in mind

Towry said her department is dedicated to fulfilling the mayor's mission of improving the lives of citizens.

Improving the quality of life.

That’s the main mission Terri Towry, the city’s director of Human Resources, has for Madison.

Towry oversees the city’s recruitment and hiring processes, employee benefits, worker’s compensation and safety, ethics, Equal Employment Opportunity compliance, compensation and leave systems, various employee events and programs and policy administration.

If the city has a vacant seat for a department head, HR seeks out qualified candidates by posting on websites, with the unemployment office and in professional associations such as the International Association of Police Chiefs and the League of Municipalities.

“What’s nice about the change toward Internet recruiting is the cost savings and quality,” Towry said. “The Internet is usually cheaper and more effective because you’re reaching a larger pool of people.”

For the last couple years, the department has been focused on recruiting critical positions such as a new police chief, public works director, city attorney, parks and recreation director and planning director.

Her department manages the hiring process, recruitment, salary offers and background checks, not the final hiring decision.

Fire chief, police chief, the city attorney and city clerk are all appointed by city council. The mayor selects other department heads.

She said the department is currently recruiting a senior center director and assistant aquatics director.

Another accomplishment the department has achieved has been the city’s safety ratings. Each year, Madison receives a rating based on employee accidents and claims, which determine the city’s Worker’s Compensation premium costs. A rating modifier factor above 1.0 would mean that compensation costs are higher than the average for municipalities. A 1.0 is considered average. For the last several years, the city has received cost discounts because they have scored below the above average.

“The city understands that safety in the workplace is the best way to control worker’s compensation and related productivity costs, especially during a slower economic trend,” Towry said. “We recently received our rate for the upcoming year at .80, down from .87 the previous year.  This will result in roughly a 20 percent discount in premiums for the city, allowing us to fund other critical programs.”

Towry said departmental goals for the upcoming fiscal year will focus on continuing the high quality of recruitments for Madison, implementing a new Human Resources Information System (HRIS), updating personnel policies, enhancing the Performance Management System and providing more management training.

“The city of Madison has a strong city government supported by a strong team of leaders and employees aligned with the vision,” she said.