COs and dispatchers get temporary pay increase

Prison, 9-1-1 center struggling to retain employees

LOCK HAVEN -- The Clinton County Commissioners approved a temporary pay increase for correctional officers in a last minute agenda item on Thursday morning. The move was made in an effort to retain its current officers.

Commissioner Miles Kessinger explained the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 86 approved the pay increase at its meeting just 20 minutes before the board convened.

The memorandum of understanding from AFSCME would increase officers pay at the Clinton County Correctional Facility by $1.50 an hour. It also includes incentives such as a $100 bonus and an extra eight hours of vacation time for recruitment of new officers who remain employed for 90 days or more.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder said the facility is having trouble reaching its full compliment of officers at the facility.

"The full compliment of corrections officers at the facility is 58. We've been running between the low 40s, 45… we're doing this to try and retain the officers we have and hopefully recruit some," he said.

Snyder noted that the county isn't unique in this issue.

"All facilities seem to be struggling. This was an idea the warden (Angela Hoover) had that would perhaps keep our employees there," he said.

The pay increase would take effect during the next pay period and last six consecutive periods.

The commissioners approved a similar increase for the county's 9-1-1 dispatchers, dispatcher trainees and shift supervisors in the Department of Emergency Services.

Employees in the department will receive a temporary increase of $1.50 an hour beginning June 27 and continue for six consecutive pay periods.

"I'd like to thank the board for their consideration. I'd also like to thank my staff for their hard work. I know it's definitely earned and well deserved," Andrew Kremser, director of emergency services, said.

Snyder asked if Kremser is struggling to fill positions at the dispatch.

"Yeah, we're still recruiting," Kremser answered. "If anyone is interested, I encourage you to apply."

The board did approve hiring Jacquelyn Rinker as a full-time dispatcher trainee for the department at a salary of $28,439.

In other business, the commissioners:

-- Heard from Kremser about its issue with the phone lines in Clinton County. Kremser said communication was down at the center for about an hour and a half on Wednesday evening.

"That was a regional issue. Our phone vendors are trying to find the root of that problem," he said. "Thankfully that didn't effect the intake of 911 calls."

Kremser explained that in an instance such as Wednesday, calls are forwarded to a dispatch center in Columbia County that communicates with emergency service personnel in the county.

"Thankfully no emergencies occurred in that time," Kremser added.

-- Approved multiple probation office related personnel items including: transferring Matt VanGorder from CYS Caseworker to Adult Probation officer; transfer Kaitlyn Markle from Juvenile Probation to Adult Probation; hiring Joshua Laudenslager as a juvenile probation officer and Kira Krape as an adult probation officer.

Deputy Chief of Probation Ed Hosler told the commissioners these hires would mean his office is fully staffed.

"We will now be at full strength," Hosler said.

-- Accepted the resignation of Susan Schwarts, attorney for Children and Youth Services, effective July 12. The board also approved a service contract with Trisha Hoover Jasper to represent CYS at a rate of $100 an hour from July 5 to Dec. 31. Kessinger said this contract will give the board time to search for Schwarts' replacement.

-- Heard from Chief Clerk Jann Meyers that the public work session scheduled for July 12 is canceled. Meyers noted that the commissioners will still hold a voting session that week on July 15 at 10 a.m.