Despite a goal of reducing its workforce by 5%, Northampton County's Personnel Committee unanimously approved two positions yesterday, a benefits administrator for Human Resources to replace recently retired Bob Lasko, and a much-needed grant coordinator for DCED."To me, it's an absolute must," stated Council member Ann McHale. I'm not sure whether she was referring to one or both positions, but the consensus is that both positions are vital and impossible to fill internally.
But before you conclude that nobody is really serious about cutting costs, I have to add that right after this, Ron Angle's Finance Committee went through a checklist of cost-savings measures, from Gracedale to charging more for filings. And yes, tipstaffs were discussed, too.
County Exec John Stoffa told the eight members of Council (McClure was absent) attending this Finance Committee meeting that his goal is to eliminate 100 positions by year's end, but by attrition. At the end of the meeting, he gave me a copy of the email below, which is being disseminated to department heads. Stoffa is calling it a hiring freeze, but it looks more like a hiring frost.
Northampton County, like most local governments, is facing difficult economic times. Our revenue, primarily from property taxes, is stagnant, yet our expenditures continue to grow. There is no apparent financial relief in sight. This is a direct result of the current economic climate country-aide. Local government is being asked to do more with less, and there appears to be no relief in sight from our partners at the Federal and State level(s).
In view of these circumstances, I am instituting an immediate hiring freeze, effective June 16, 2010, on all existing vacant positions. Only upon "special exception" will a position be filled. Special exceptions will not be "rubber stamped", and will need to be justified in light of our dire financial times.
• The "Special exception" proviso will involve the Department Head presenting justification to a special panel who will review the presenting justification. If the special panel agrees that the position should be filled, the recommendation will be forwarded to the County Council Personnel Committee. Only then, and with Council approval, will the position be filled
I understand that this process may sound onerous. Nevertheless, we all must work together and share the burden if we are to continue to provide services to Northampton County residents within the budget restraints we face.
I sincerely ask for your full cooperation and adherence to this policy.
John Stoffa
County Executive
The DCED position is unnecessary. Why not let the Janus guy do it. He doesn't do anything much now. Hell his job was a campaign help payback by Stoffa to Grucella who helped Stoffa first time around in the primary.
ReplyDeleteTotally unnecessary position. The current employees are involved in too many side projects that have nothing to do with their jobs.
Check out how often they are in their offices.
Good job Stoffa, you officially asked your staff to be sure they need any jobs they ask for and you will have a committee or panel review it. Leadership from the rear.
Good job John!
Why couldn't Stoffa ask his department heads to slash 5% from their existing budgets before he mandated the savings come from a hiring freeze?
ReplyDeleteOne way to save money (or 5%, whatever the goal) is to change a full time job into two or three part-time jobs. You save money by not paying benefits (there's your 5%, actually, more savings) and you don't lose services.
Hello, anybody listening?
"Check out how often they are in their offices"
ReplyDeletehey, scooter, check out their name: coommunity and economic development. seems to me ya can't do a lot of that from inside your office, no?
How in the hell does tipstaffs, who are part-time, get benefits, which by county human resources regulations is illegal?
ReplyDeleteNow... what does Stoffa really do all day? Do you really mean that he could not step in and oversee the Benefits Department? There is no existing employee in that Department that could help him. In this economy there should be no hiring. Do more with less. We all are.
ReplyDelete12:57 - Thanks for your relevant insight, but as an update, Janus hasn't worked for the county for half a year. He relocated to the LV from western PA & promptly went back there.
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt he ever met Grucela and without a map he wouln't have ever found the Slatebelt.
Gotta love conspiracy theorists.
"The DCED position is unnecessary."
ReplyDeleteIf this is how you feel, then all you need do is go to the Council meting tonight and explain to them why it should not be filled and that it's just politics oand Stoffa is an idiot, etc.
But you won't do that bc you are an anonymous coward.
"One way to save money (or 5%, whatever the goal) is to change a full time job into two or three part-time jobs."
ReplyDeleteI'm all for saving moey, but not that way. The people who work for the county are expected to provide good services, and should be treated like human beings. You don't treat them like McDonald's or grocery store employees.
"Now... what does Stoffa really do all day? Do you really mean that he could not step in and oversee the Benefits Department?"
ReplyDeleteThe position of benefits administrator is highly specialized and could not be filled from the inside. The 8 council members present at last night's meeting all felt that wway. But if you think Stoffa should add this to his duties as county exec, come to tonight's meeting and make your case. Maybe he should mop the halls, too.
No money, no honey.
ReplyDelete"The people who work for the county are expected to provide good services, and should be treated like human beings."
ReplyDeleteTell that to all of the part-time deputy sheriffs who have been waiting years to become full-time, yet tipstaffs who do work part-time get benefits. It all depends on who you work for.
Despite the genrral view that tipstaffs are all part-time, I'm not sure they are. I pulled the payroll records of one such employee, and will not reveal his name out of respect for his privvacy. He is getting paid for 80 hours every pay period.
ReplyDeleteNow I know these tipstaffs are not here when the judges are not here, but her's one guy getting paid for 80 hours and getting benefits who is never here.
Maybe the answer is to let the judges keep them but reclassify from full time to part time so there are no benefits.
Something is not right.
In this economy, if Stoffa needs to mop the halls, why not?
ReplyDelete"Now I know these tipstaffs are not here when the judges are not here, but here's one guy getting paid for 80 hours and getting benefits who is never here."
ReplyDeleteThat's called THEFT. The DA and/or Controller should investigate.
Why not let the assistant Dir. of Administration do the DCED job or benefits job. Harp doesn't do anything now. he was a friend of Stoffa who is already dipping from a state pension.
ReplyDeleteAlso "scooter", check out DCED, hanging out at lunch joints may increase your waist line but not the Community Development. Of course you can justify anything in such a bullshit Department, right "scooter"?
Tubbs
"Also "scooter", check out DCED, hanging out at lunch joints may increase your waist line but not the Community Development. Of course you can justify anything in such a bullshit Department, right "scooter"?"
ReplyDeletei can say i'm not a stoffa booster. i can also say withour a doubt you have no idea how community or economic development is conducted, at any level.