Nov. 17--The Brunswick City Commission will make another attempt Wednesday at approving the purchase of computerized time clocks in an attempt to increase productivity.

At its previous meeting, a sharp-tongued commission gave city staffers an earful for being unprepared when confusion ensued over whether or not there was money available from the sale of items seized by police to buy the clocks. Heading into the meeting, commissioners were under the impression the money was there, but they were not able to get a clear answer from the staff.

After time to resolve the issue, it turns out there is enough money to purchase the $22,000 time clocks, but not from the police fund.

"All of the police seizure funds have been obligated," City Manager Roosevelt Harris said. What led to the confusion, Harris said, is that some of the funds were obligated but were not encumbered, meaning they did not have a purchase order.

Instead, Harris will recommend that another source be used to buy the clocks.

By switching from paper time sheets to computerized clocks, city officials hope to save between $190,000 and $300,000 per year in payroll, based on estimates by the American Payroll Association.

Approving the clocks is a no- brainer, Mayor Bryan Thompson said.

Even if the money saves a fraction of what is estimated, the city will easily recoup its money, he said.

"The rest of the commission and I are ready to vote 'yes' on this," Thompson said.

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