During his first year in office, Executive John Brown quickly decided to balance the budget on the backs of county employees while claiming they are the county's greatest asset. In addition to slashing health care benefits, he refused to fill vacancies. Eventually, there were 30 open correction officer positions at the jail, which meant mandatory overtime. Countywide, he had refused to fill 268 position in early 2015, or 12.5% of the workforce.
Many of them, 133.15 to be exact, were in Human Services. They included caseworkers for Children and Youth, Area Agency on Aging, Mental Health and at Gracedale. There were 16 vacancies in Children and Youth, the agency charged with protecting our children from neglect or abuse.
Brown was embarrassed into reducing most of those vacancies, but Children and Youth Director Kevin Dolan told Council just last week that he still has ten vacancies. His agency is currently besieged by a record number of referrals. Vacancies also continue to be a problem in the row offices.
But there's no shortage of staff in the Amy Trapp's Human Resources Department, where $800 popcorn machines are the norm and thousands of taxpayer dollars are blown on "gift cards" to boost morale among her favorites.
Brown has also recently hired a Deputy Director of Administration. Rose M Faryna, who hails from the Northampton area, was hired on May 30 at a salary of $49,146.86. Brown had no obligation to seek Council's approval. In fact, he never bothered to tell them at all about this new hire.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Monday, June 26, 2017
11 comments:
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What are her credentials? Another high school grad crony of Brown? What the help will she be doing to earn $50K? Her supervisor, tax cheat Allen doesn't do a damn thing worth crap so why hire another gold brick? Lamont should be all over this new example of Brown's arrogance and disregard for taxpayer's money.
ReplyDeleteToo many staff in the HR department. What do they do beside go to trainings? Can't wait till the election, at least we can get Brown out. Hope the next Exec. looks at Trapp and co closely.
ReplyDeleteYes, what are her credentials?????? Does she live in Northampton like Trapp???? Does she have a real estate DIPLOMA???? Was she hired because she met at a baby shower????
ReplyDeleteWe need more administrators to keep the over paid and under worked union crybabies in line. Cut then till it hurts.
ReplyDeleteWhy does HR have 15+ employees to handle ~$2,000 employees when Civil or Prothonotary have far less to handle the whole County???? Oh that's right --- because Trapp says so. Do as I say not as I do mentality by Trapp.
ReplyDeleteThe pathetic John Brown, Mr. Non-transparency, is at it once again. Just as shoddy as his past business experience, his non-communication ability is an accomplishment to his style of governance. Send this clown back to Bangor where he can once again flourish as a brilliant do nothing mayor.
ReplyDeleteBangor doesn't want or need him back!
ReplyDeleteBrown seems to be doing a good job, making government more efficient and cutting the fat, that is what we need.
ReplyDeleteShe can't control the speed of her car or stop her car at stop signs as noted in her court appearances.
ReplyDeleteThe new deputy director will fit right in up there on the third floor. Watch your backs! I should have watched mine
ReplyDeleteWe need more Indians and field personnel, not do nothing chiefs that perform failure tasks more and more!
ReplyDelete