by VERONICA GORDON
The city of Buda has hired its first Human Resources Manager. Sylvia Hernandez was selected as the city’s HR manager in October. She started the job last month.
The city has grown enough to justify the need for an HR manager and during the budget process in August, City Manager Kenneth Williams suggested the city create the position.
“We’re growing as a city and we need a professional person to handle not just benefits, but risk management as well,” Williams said.
The HR manager is in charge of overseeing employee benefits. Salaries and benefits make up 54 percent of the general fund expenses of the city budget.
The Buda council approved the funding for the new position and Williams began the search.
“We have enough people and we need to manage them,” Williams said. “People are our best resource and we need to take care of them, so the better we manage that part of our operation, the better. Now we have someone.”
Hernandez is going to help out with risk management, employee benefits and other programs, he said.
“I’m happy to be here,” Hernandez said last week. “And I’m excited to learn about Buda.”
Hernandez lives in Austin, but most recently worked in California.
Hernandez has much experience in administering employee benefit programs medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts and 401(k) plans, and answering benefit questions for managers and employees, as well as assisting with problem solving.
“She’s a great addition to the city staff,” Williams said.
The city council officially welcomed Hernandez at the Nov. 20 meeting.