Council approves revised pay-period structure and hourly rates for parks seasonal staff

The Dominion County Council voted to change how seasonal parks staff are paid: three seasonal employees will be paid at an hourly rate of $18.99 over 15.5 pay periods, and the parks supervisor will be paid an hourly rate averaging $21.01 over 16 pay periods. The council approved the change by voice vote on March 10.

Wayne Bush, president of the county park board, explained the proposals and said the park board and crews preferred synchronized starts and consistent hourly pay rather than the staggered schedule previously proposed. The park board indicated the change would allow the department to redeploy unused budgeted hours at the end of the season — for example, letting employees work additional time later in the year when funds remain — by moving from a lump-sum salary figure to an hourly rate in the salary resolution.

Council members discussed logistics, including making the salary-resolution amendment at the April meeting so pay could be made retroactive to a March 28 start date. Commissioners and park officials also confirmed the seasonal positions are classified as "full-time seasonal," which makes them eligible for benefits including health insurance (with the employee responsible for year-round premiums if elected), PERF participation and unemployment in the off-season. The transcript records a budget pool of approximately $70,650 for the seasonal staff and cites an example of $23,550 per person as a planning figure; the council did not vote to increase the overall salary pool.

The council directed staff to update the salary resolution at the next meeting so the hourly rates could be applied retroactively to March 28 if approved administratively. The clerk recorded the voice vote as approving the pay-period and hourly-rate changes.