County approves temporary pay boost for 9-1-1 dispatchers after leadership vacancies

County council members voted to approve a temporary pay increase for two 9-1-1 dispatchers who have taken on administrative duties after the center’s director and assistant director resigned.

The council approved a proposal to compensate the two dispatchers retroactively to May 29 at a rate equivalent to the assistant director’s differential: $2.22 per hour on base pay and $3.33 for time-and-a-half overtime, to be paid from Fund 12-22. The council also directed staff to advertise the director position with a dollar amount to be specified for hiring and budget purposes.

The request came after the council heard that the dispatchers, identified in the meeting as Alyssa Eastlet and Stephanie Fearnow, had been handling scheduling, payroll and other administrative tasks while continuing their regular dispatch shifts. The presenter who explained the situation said the work these staff have taken on “should be compensated since May 29” and recommended using the assistant director pay differential to calculate retroactive and ongoing pay.

Council members noted the position has been difficult to fill. The meeting record shows repeated failed recruitment attempts and concerns about candidate qualifications and retention. The presenter said prior directors had left, training had been inconsistent, and the job requires a “career” candidate who will remain in the role rather than serve briefly and leave.

Council members and 9-1-1 board representatives discussed short-term fixes: declaring an interim director, paying an interim assistant or creating mentor-style stipends for those doing onboarding and extra training. The council also agreed to revisit longer-term structure and pay during upcoming budget workshops.

The council approved the pay increase and motioned to advertise the leadership vacancy with an estimated amount so the hiring process would not be delayed. The council requested that commissioners consider a recommendation the 9-1-1 board had previously presented; if the commissioners accept that recommendation, a decision on a more permanent structure could come at the next commissioner meeting.

The meeting included discussion of training options; the presenter said former center director Kathleen Lamb, identified in the meeting as an APCO-certified instructor, has agreed to provide in-person training, with costs and logistics still to be worked out.

No litigation or other formal liabilities were identified as resolved in the meeting; council members raised the possibility that prolonged lack of formal leadership could create exposure if a major emergency were mishandled, but no legal action was taken at the meeting.

The council’s action was taken by voice vote and recorded as carried. Next steps identified were advertising the director role with a dollar amount to be set and further discussion during budget workshops on permanent staffing and training funding.