Commissioners table change to emergency-closure pay policy after public safety objections

The Newton County Board of Commissioners on March 18 voted to table for at least 60 days a proposed resolution that would remove a section of the county employee handbook governing pay for essential personnel during emergency closures.

Supporters of delaying the deletion said further review is needed after public safety personnel and other employees said removing the language would reduce pay clarity and harm morale. Commissioner Edwards moved to table the resolution; Commissioner Henderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The matter drew public comment before the resolution came to the board. Paul View, who identified himself as a resident at Hodges Circle, told commissioners the policy was “a way that pays public safety to come in” during closures and urged the board not to delete it. Firefighter Donald Bowen — who said he has 25 years of fire service experience, including three with Newton County — asked the board to “table this for 90 days” and to hear directly from the affected department heads. Bowen said five county departments rely on the policy: fire, the sheriff’s office, 911, public works and emergency management, and that personnel expected to work during closures “feel like we’re owed 48 hours according to the policy.”

County staff and the county manager described the change as an attempt to eliminate confusing or duplicative language. The county manager said the handbook section “has created a lot of confusion and a lot of inconsistent application,” and that staff believed deleting it and starting fresh would make pay rules clearer. The manager and the human resources director both said they would need to draft replacement language and collect additional information before bringing a revised policy back to the board.

Commissioners debated several practical questions the deletion raised: whether essential staff (for example, deputies, firefighters, and public works crews) would still receive extra pay when facilities close, how the policy applied to salaried versus hourly employees, and what the county’s peer jurisdictions do. Commissioner Mason asked staff to produce hypothetical scenarios showing how different employee classifications would be paid under the proposed change. Several commissioners and members of the public urged the board to solicit input from affected employees.

By tabling the resolution, the board directed staff to return with more analysis and proposed language. Commissioner Edwards made the motion to table “for a minimum of 60 days,” and the board agreed on that timeframe. No final change to the handbook was adopted at the March 18 meeting.