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Sullivan County HR: COVID leave to sunset in July as sheriff’s staffing improves but overtime concern remains
Summary
The county’s human resources committee heard that COVID-19 quarantine leave will expire in July and that transfers and reinstatements have cut sheriff’s vacancies roughly in half; committee members asked for accounting of double-overtime costs and agreed to revisit staffing in June.
The Sullivan County Human Resources Committee heard Wednesday that the county’s COVID-19 quarantine leave policy will expire in July and that recent transfers and reinstatements have substantially reduced vacancies in the sheriff’s department, but members pressed staff for an accounting of double-overtime costs before the leave fully sunsets.
Julie (last name not specified), speaking for county human resources/civil service staff, said the COVID-19 quarantine leave legislation is scheduled to expire in July and described the policy’s current documentation requirements. She said the county had accepted eight transfers from the state correctional services and was on the cusp of two more transfers; three additional candidates are in the pipeline for reinstatement. “We were at 20 when this started. We, soon to be at 10 vacancies,” Julie said, characterizing the change as “a significant help.”
Committee members asked whether the reduced vacancies would allow the county to stop paying double overtime once the COVID leave sunsets. Member Louie Alvarez and others noted that even with more staff, scheduling disruptions, medical leave and training mean overtime will not disappear. Brian McPhillips requested an accounting of how much the county has paid in double overtime since the leave began; Julie said payroll reports are being produced for management and budget and that the commission may receive the figures. Committee members asked the human resources office to provide vacancy and overtime figures in June so the committee can reassess before the leave expires.
Julie warned the committee that hiring and bringing new officers onto the roster takes time: candidates must give notice, complete background checks and receive training. She said the county will need additional candidates “already in play” by June to be confident the vacancy count will remain low when the leave ends.
No formal action on the leave or overtime was taken in the committee meeting. Members agreed to review updated vacancy and overtime reports at a future committee or full-board meeting.
The meeting concluded with a request from a committee member that the double-overtime accounting be made available to the public; Julie said the figures are reported to management and budget and indicated the commission may receive them separately.
