Commissioners approve part‑time pay increase for long‑time employee; debate salary ordinance consistency
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Summary
The board approved a request to convert a full‑time employee (Christie Smiley) to part time at $22/hour and discussed inconsistencies in the salary ordinance and whether department heads should be exempt; members asked HR to circulate the ordinance for review at the next meeting.
County staff asked the board to approve reducing employee Christie Smiley from 35 to 29 hours a week and to raise her part‑time wage to $22 per hour so she can continue performing her full duties without a full‑time hire. The department head who made the request said the change will save roughly $5,000 annually in PERF and reduce insurance costs; the board approved the request by motion and voice vote.
The request prompted an extended discussion about consistency with the county salary ordinance and prior decisions. Several members said the salary ordinance should be followed consistently; others argued the current situation differs from a prior denied $400 increase because the present request concerns changing a full‑time position to part‑time while retaining experience and responsibilities. One commissioner asked that the salary ordinance wording be circulated by email and placed on the next meeting agenda for review.
No formal amendment to the salary ordinance was made at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to have Patty send the current ordinance text and consider whether department directors should be exempt or handled case‑by‑case.
Motion and vote: a motion to accept the employee's part‑time move at $22/hour was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote (no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript).