Council makes pay step exemption (06/15/06)

Making a rare exception to the county’s salary ordinance, Jay County Council members Wednesday night agreed to hire Lisa Kirby as a first deputy in the assessor’s office two steps higher than the starting rate.

Assessor Anita Mills explained that Lisa Kirby has been a part-time employee in the office since 2001, has worked for township assessors for several years, and has the experience necessary to handle the responsibilities in the office.

“This upsets the apple cart if you make an exception for a particular case,” council member Gerald Kirby, who is not related to Lisa Kirby, said. “I have voted consistently against this and will continue to do so.”

Council member Judy LeMaster agreed with Gerald Kirby. “You’re opening up a can of worms,” she said.

Terms of the 11-step salary plan adopted three years ago direct that all new employees are hired at a Step 1 minimum salary unless the request is brought before the council for exception.

Kirby will be hired at $2,053 above the minimum pay of $19,233 for the position.

Council approved the request by a 4-2 vote with Kirby and LeMaster voting no.

Lisa Kirby replaces Diana Stults, who recently left the position. Additionally, Kirby will be appointed to serve on the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, Mills said.

Also Wednesday night, council members approved a request from Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management, to spend a homeland security grant that has not yet been received.

“We’ve been awarded a $76,217 grant from homeland security, but they will not let me have it until I spend it,” he explained.

Explaining that receipts of purchases must be presented to state officials for reimbursement of the expenditures, auditor Freda Corwin added, “They’re trying to scrutinize what the money is spent on,” but added, “I don’t understand it. It makes no sense. If that account is in the red at the end of the year, I get written up.”

“I make a resolution to spend money we don’t have. I can’t wait to do it,” Kirby said about approving Frazee’s request.

Frazee explained the money will be used to purchase a variety of law enforcement and rescue equipment as well as eight hand-held radios for law enforcement agencies in the county.

As council members begin working on the 2007 budget, Jay County Development Corporation executive director, Bob Quadrozzi, presented a request for next year of $83,350 for his organization.

He explained the figure is the same as the request for the 2006 budget, noting that of that amount, estimated actual expenditures were $72,750.

Presenting an expenses report, Quadrozzi pointed out that phone costs decreased by 17 percent, and travel expenses had gone down by 40 percent, but insurance costs have risen by 600 percent and the cost of supplies had also increased some 66 percent.

“We appreciate the support we’ve gotten in the past,” he told the council.

Council members will hold budget reviews on Aug. 8 and 9, and will hold a public hearing and first reading on Aug. 23. They are expected to adopt the budget at the regular meeting on Sept. 13.

In other business Wednesday night, council members heard Garth “Mike” LeMaster, director of Community Corrections, say that his request for funding for the local department had been cut by five percent for the first six months of the year beginning July 1.

To make up the difference in the approximately $90,000 budget, LeMaster asked council to approve the use of $4,287.20 from probation user fees.

“We’ll make up the difference out of user fees,” he said, “there will be no taxpayer fees. I’ll be back next month for an additional appropriation.”[[In-content Ad]]