An audit report released yesterday by Northampton County Controller Steve Barron reveals a stunning 76.1% overtime (OT) increase since 2004. What's even more amazing, as he revealed during a budget hearing later that day, is that "Lehigh County's around seventy percent. So both counties have seen some struggles."In Northampton County, Barron has pinpointed most of this increase at the jail, where one lucky corrections officer pulled down $130,764.56 in 2008, even though her base salary is just $46,723. One of the main raises for this increase, according to the audit report, is a practice known as shift switching. This occurs when two guards enter into an arrangement where one calls in sick and the other covers the shift, only to have that favor returned the following week. Amazingly, this practice is tolerated at the Juvenile Justice Center and jail. "I work 32 hours one week, 48 the other, I have 4 additional hours in overtime pay. So if I switch my shift or manipulate it to my advantage, along with a buddy of mine, I get the benefit. I receive more money from my base salary just by switching the shift. So I suck it up one week, I get a break the other, and I make a little bit of money."
Barron hopes to be able to eliminate shift switching with a new time card system going into effect next week. He also noted that, although state law requires daily time records for three years, jail supervisors discarded them, leaving no paper trail to verify what is reported on computers.
At the jail, the percentage of OT to salaries was 13.31% in 2008, and is at 12.2% this year (9/30/09). Since 2004, that percentage is a whopping 15.00%, more than twice the average at other county jails. "Nobody else is even close," noted Barron.
Even more alarming is the increase to deputy sheriffs, up from 4.09% in 2008 to a "staggering" 7.6% as of 9/30/09. According to Barron's audit, "This is an area that could see the largest increase in overtime costs over the course of the year." This is primarily the result of a collective bargaining agreement requiring two deputies for all but the most limited low risk assignments.
County Executive John Stoffa, responding to Barron's report, said that "the overtime issue is not just at the jail, it's everywhere across the County." He's asked Finance Director Vic Mazziotti to lead a committee studying overtime at every department throughout the County. Stoffa is also considering removing OT from department budgets completely. "I think sometimes it should be a separate line item and when you need overtime, you have to come and ask for it."
Never at a loss for words, Council member Ron Angle compared the jail to Alcatraz. "It's an island unto itself." For one thing, the prison has been unable to get a time clock installed for the past ten years, running into one problem after the other. He advised Stoffa, "You need to go out and hire the biggest son of a bitch warden that there is out there, who's known for being a son of a bitch, and pay him whatever you gotta' pay him, and bring him in here and tell him, 'Now listen, you go do what you gotta do.'" He also suggested Council Prez McHale should step down as prison liaison. "You always got an answer as to why whatever they're doing is OK. Maybe we need a new set of eyes over there. You're a great cheerleader for the prison, but are you a great liaison?"
I work with a woman whose friend is a correction officer at the Norco Jail and she always told me this woman made over $100k. I met her one day. She is the most inarticulate, rough, ignorant, person I ever met, but she has a CEO salary.
ReplyDeleteSo, for the past four years Stoffa is Executive and he agrees with Barron that not only at the prison but throughout the County overtime is a terrible problem.
ReplyDeleteSo, after four years as County Executive he decides to have Mazzioti form a committee to look into it.
You have to hand it to Stoffa, he is one of the best pol's I have ever seen. While others would ask, "where have you been for four years?", ohara and the press will probably want to give him a medal.
I bet four years from now when they discover how much extra County money they are pouring into Human Services for eight years Stoffa will say, I hope the next Executive looks into that!
Ya gotta love the guy. Incompetence has a name and it is Stoffer.
Stoffa honestly acknowledges a problem that, according to Barron's audit, existed at leasdt 2 years before Stoffa took office. Instead of dismissing this audit, Stoffa honestly recognizes that it is indicative of a larger problem and wants to do something about it. And you typically slam him.
ReplyDeleteThe problem you have is that some of us like honest people who try to do the right thing. You'll never get that. But that's why Stoffa will always come out on top.
I have no problem with this as long as there are no abortions going on. VOTE REPUBLICAN!
ReplyDeleteFour years of this Problem are in Stoffa's lap but now he will do a study.
ReplyDeleteDidn't say he would do anything substancial now, but a study will be done.
The guy proves everyday that he is the perfect lifetime bureaucrat.
anon1:108 you still collecting unemployment compensation from the tax payers in Northampton County or did somebody finally give you a job ?
ReplyDeleteanon1:108 you still collecting unemployment compensation from the tax payers in Northampton County or did somebody finally give you a job ?
ReplyDeleteI think it's unfair to say this is a result of bad leadership by the County Executive. If he fails to act boldly now on this though, that's failure.
ReplyDeleteA four year window of incompetence is actually very good for this Administration.
ReplyDeleteSomething needs to be done about this. In the end its probably a drop in the bucket as far as the budget deficit but it's the principle of the thing. You would never get away with this in the Corporate world or even Walmart. Hell, Walmart doesnt allow their employees to go over 39.5 hours just to avoid giving them healthcare. What a country.
ReplyDeleteThis guy Barron doesn't know what he's talking about. He has it twisted. But thanks, you've given me some ideas!
ReplyDeleteI do not make as much as that C.O. But I also don't pay as much in taxes, do you? Maybe the newspaper should verify some of their information. we cannot switch shifts without approval, so unlike the person from juvee, we cannot just switch everyother week just to get OT. And when we call in sick, you do not get someone to work for you personally. This is typical county politics. lets talk about how much money Angle and the county waste going to court over issues and doing needless studies.
ReplyDeleteEver hear of "Comp Time"?
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:31, You're in your own little world, and I'm sure permission for shift switching occurs freely. How much did you earn last year? It won't be long before some of you are making more than the president judge.
ReplyDeleteAnd how convenient that the paper trail of this daily OT is gone!
Someone commented earlier that there is no shift switching. You say there is, but it is approved. Which is it?
the article says someone from juvee detention said he switches with someone else at juvee to get extra OT. At the prison there is policy in place to keep us from switching with someone every week to get ot. I never said people do not have someone work for them. And looking at the posts no one else did either. maybe you should look at what a judge makes. not all of us like to spend all our time at work!!!
ReplyDeleteWe expect to pay a judge a salary commensurate w/ his position. We do not expect to pay a judge's salary to a corrections officer. You folks are abusing OT.
ReplyDeleteThe average life expentancy of a corrections officer is 59 years. The divorce rate among corrections officers is 90%. In addition you have the suicide rate and the rate of drug and alcohol addiction due to job related stress. What would you say that is worth? What is a fair compensation? You wouldn't know, you don't go to work and get locked in for 16 hours. When you do, let me know what you think you are worth.
ReplyDeleteAnd psychological profiles reveal that corrections officers think pretty much the same way as the inmates they supposedly guard. How many of you supply weed? How many of you are doing female inmates? I have a packet right now by the mother of an inmate who tells me you won't even give her blankets, and who has witnessed inamte abuse. Is this true? I've hesitated publishing this information, but you apparently need more scrutiny than you're getting.
ReplyDeleteWhatever your divorce rate, that's no justification for abusing OT. maybe if you didn't do that, you wouldn't have such high divorce rates.
I like the way you change the subject to something none related to OT. The article states most OT in the last 5 years went to the prison. Now how about the other side of why that happened. When the new towers opened we where understaffed. many of us where getting mandated(forced to work OT) 25 plus times that year. Working 3 to 4 doubles in a row. Now take out that year and you figures change drasticly, you are trying to make it look like everyone works as much OT as the person mentioned. most would like to do our 8 hrs and go home.many people don't even work any voluntary ot.
ReplyDeleteunappreciated said......What would you say that is worth? What is a fair compensation? You wouldn't know, you don't go to work and get locked in for 16 hours. When you do, let me know what you think you are worth.
ReplyDeleteIn all of Northampton County they only have one job opening Here for one "Corrections Officer" starting for $30,156 a year.
So I guess there isn't a line outside for these jobs. But hey, if somebody needs a job?
I grew up in a corrections officer's house. It's one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Most of them are great people, very down to Earth, then they go to work and deal with our worst. They're severely underpaid, but that doesn't mean OT should just be given out at will. They should get a higher base pay and the OT thing should be brought in line.
ReplyDeletePeople complaining about Stoffa should really be complaining about the former Controller of Northampton County... he's the one who should have been reviewing payroll and overtime over the years and creating a 3 to 5 year comparison to compare any significant changes... he should have caught on to the overtime schemes... well before Barron took office in 2008.
ReplyDeleteNice work by Barron. But Stoffa's arriving late to the party is disappointing. His whack-a-mole approach to fixing county problems has been scatter-shot at times. It's time for him to step up his game. The new council is smarter and more circumspect than the old team of food fighters. That we're talking about unloading Gracedale and some other white elephants is a good sign for the future.
ReplyDeleteI read and re-read the article, what the Hell is this Barobs guy point. he uses alot of "maybes" and "possiblies", but the only thing he is firm on is overtime is being used.
ReplyDeletehe offers no real explanation if it was legal or not. he only speculates.
Another Long protege who is probably looking at the next office he wants and trying for headlines.
This entire topic is really weird. Barron says there may be a problemand Stoffa agrees and says he may do something.
Does anyone ever really do anything in the county or do they all sit around smoke dope and speculate.
The Prison is an around the clock operation. Has this Barron guy ever run anything like that? Is he just another career politican who is blowing his own horn?
ReplyDeleteI just wonder if he knows what he is doing or talking about. Today every politican has an answer but no experience.
End the madness. Privatize the prison and leave cleaning up its poor management to professionals.
ReplyDelete"The Prison is an around the clock operation"
ReplyDeleteSo is Gracedale, but the problem there is under control.
" he uses alot of "maybes" and "possiblies", but the only thing he is firm on is overtime is being used."
ReplyDeleteBarron, by pointnf to shift switching, is obviously pointing to OT abuse. Because the jail really is a world unto itself, they hate when people look at them closely.
If someone did something illegal turn it over to the DA, otherwise it is so much political windage.
ReplyDeleteThis guy appears good at it.
Barron has not alleged criminal behavior. He has alleged overtime abuse, something that falls under his purview as Controller. Prison guards may not be thankful, but taxpayers are.
ReplyDeleteas a taxpayer, I'm happy the criminals are in jail. and it sounds like, in addition to the abuse of overtime, that we pay prison guards crap and then subject them to the nasty ramblings of a some bum who has never worked in a prison but is happy to call them abuse, accuse them of screwing inmates and sneaking them dope. while you are quick to point out that they aren't being accused of anything illegal in the ot abuse, you are quick to point out that they are doing illegal stuff when they challenge these findings. that's just reckless, unless you have the goods that you are going to share. my guess is that you are just happy to be a bully and wail on them.
ReplyDeleteOh, you're talking about what I've alleged? We are ALL aware of the corrections officers who have been arrested over the years. We are ALL aware that there was some racism and ethnic slurs there recently. I have some allegations I'm willing to share very soon.
ReplyDeleteBarron has alleged no criminal behavior. He has alleged OT abuse, and he has proven it, too. He is doing his job as Controller. He reports to the taxpayers, not corrections officers.
To those CO's and their family. Barron os a young Joe Long Democrat that wants to be voted into a highr office. He has no real world experience and wants to be taken as a big boy. He is throwing out some unprovable and ambiguous crap to score headlines.
ReplyDeleteOhare thinks he is sweet and loves the guy so whatever he claims, he will jump on.
Nice genralizations Ohare. I hear some politicans have taken bribes and broke laws, I guess that means Stoffa is a lawbreaking bribe taker. That is your logic, pretty stupid isn't it.
When Stoffa saved the County millions by all his hard work for four years, how did he miss something as obvious as overtime abuse.
ReplyDeleteI guess this wasn't part of the $10 million a year he saved.
I love the fact that the new Republican majority loves this guy and the first thing he will do is hand them a 15% tax increase next year.
"When Stoffa saved the County millions by all his hard work for four years, how did he miss something as obvious as overtime abuse."
ReplyDeleteThat's simple. It hasn't been so obvious. The prison is its own little world, playing by its own set of rules. Thse rules incluse ignoring a state law requiring them to keep paper records of daily time sheets for three years. For ten years, the County has been trying to have time clocks installed. it will finally happen now.
Stoffa's first four years has consisted of putting our fires set by his predecessor, dealing with eleven different unions for the dirst time, and being back-stabbed by a county council at every turn. In the face of all that, he did manage to ave $10 million per year. Now, thankfully, some of the clowns are gone. I suspect that in Stoffa's final four years, he'll have a Council that is willing to work with him instead of against him.
I guess whatever great things Stoffa has done must be really classified top secret.
ReplyDeleteWhatever those fires were, I guess they were top secret too.
Around the court house the one accomplishment he does get full credit for is renameing the Fourth floor the Third floor.
This dripping hatred for Stoffa is getting old in a hurry. He won in 2005. He was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2009. The people rid Council of Stoffa's chief antagonist.
ReplyDeleteIt's over.
I'm getting tired of these constant attacks by a mean-spitited person who is acting out of a hatred for Stoffa instead of a desire to do what is right for the county. You can hate him until the day you die but he is the county executive and you better get used to it. Come January, he will have a Council that is willing to work w/ him instead of the gridlock he had before.
He will make mistakes. He will not be perfect. But instead of doing what is politically popular, he will be interested in doing what is right for the county. Now if you have some suggestions to make, do so. But if you are going to do nothing more than make petty swipes at a good man and the choice of the people, you will be deleted.
anonymous said: "Ohare thinks he is sweet and loves the guy so whatever he claims, he will jump on."
ReplyDeleteAre these two a 'couple'? :)
Wow! Now we go on to grade school behavior, typical for people whose psychological profiles are the same as the inmates they supposedly guard.
ReplyDeleteYou should be ashamed to assume decent people who question "your" motives or staements are somehow evil or deranged.
ReplyDeleteThe only person we know that definitely has been caught doing illegal things that destroyed his life is you. From being a former lawyer through gewtting caught with your date cross dressing in the County bathroom.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
I was never caught cross dressing in a county or any other bathroom. I once appeared in the Courthouse in a woman's dress, wig and army boots. It was many years ago. It was a joke for the people who have a sense of humor, which apparently does not include you.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that merely reporting this shift switching allegations, and defending myself from increasingly vitriolic attacks, would lead to even more.
Just to keep the un-informed, informed. The prison and the county installed time clocks in the prison over 2 years ago. Over the course of that time many tests have been done with this system. And the county (controllers office maybe) cannot get the clocks to work properly. I know the officers do not care if they have to punch in.
ReplyDeleteListen, if this were a private business and the management decided to install time clocks, they'd be up and running the next day. It is ridiculous and suspicious that after two years, they still don't work. Like Angle says, you're in your own little world.
ReplyDeleteit is up to the county to get the clocks up and running, not the officers, so tell the people in the big ivoty tower to walk across the parking lot and get it done
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