Adams County committee approves 2025 wage-scale placements, creates new aging-and-disability supervisor slot

The Adams County Administrative & Finance Committee approved placement changes and additions to the county's 2025 wage scale, including creation of a new Aging and Disability Resource Center supervisor position and a one-grade reclassification to preserve a supervisory step between the new supervisor and the existing manager.

Human Resources Director (HR director) told the committee that an external evaluator, Risk Strategies, reviewed submitted job descriptions and "they recommended that that be put into pay grade 12." The HR director said the aging-and-disability manager would be moved from pay grade 12 to pay grade 11 to create a step between the two positions.

Why it matters: the changes adjust internal pay relationships in Health and Human Services and set a new standard for uncertified social workers countywide, which affects hiring and pay at the department level.

The HR director also described a new countywide approach for social worker pay: rather than maintaining separate pay grades for certified and uncertified social workers, the committee approved a policy to hire social workers into the single new grade and pay uncertified hires 5% below that rate until they receive required certification. The director characterized the 5% reduction as "roughly a dollar 50, a little a little less than a dollar 50, an hour." The director also noted a confidential administrative assistant position affected by a resignation would remain at step 15 with no change.

Supervisors pressed HR on how reclassifications relate to other manager and supervisor positions in Health and Human Services. Supervisor Caperski asked, "How long does this reduction in wage go on before it's brought up to scale?" The HR director answered, "Once they receive their certification, they would go up to full scale." Other supervisors sought assurances that separate managerial titles and pay grades are evaluated on duties rather than title alone.

Later in the meeting the committee approved a separate, related request to move a Coordinated Services supervisor position from grade 12 to grade 11 after Risk Strategies determined the supervisor oversees behavioral health therapists who were in the same grade. Supervisor Pease moved the coordinated-services reclassification and Supervisor Edwards seconded; the motion passed.

Votes at a glance - Approve position placement changes and additions to the 2025 wage scale (including creation of Aging and Disability Resource Center supervisor at grade 12; manager moved from grade 12 to grade 11; social-worker uncertified pay at -5% until certification). Motion: approve wage scale placement and changes. Mover: Supervisor Pease. Seconder: Supervisor Caperski. Outcome: approved. - Move Coordinated Services supervisor from grade 12 to grade 11. Motion: move position to grade 11 to ensure supervisory differential. Mover: Supervisor Pease. Seconder: Supervisor Edwards. Outcome: approved.

The committee did not attach numerical vote counts to either motion on the record; both passed after the chair called for "all in favor" and members responded. The HR director indicated the county will annotate the wage scale with an asterisk noting the 5% decrease for noncertified social workers until certification.

The committee discussion emphasized that individual positions are evaluated on duties and job descriptions, not title alone; HR said evaluations are done per position and that some managers and supervisors fall into different pay grades depending on responsibilities.