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Committee approves creating Crossroads maintenance positions; 3rd-floor buildout and space moves discussed
Summary
Public works received permission to create (and to fill three of) four new positions for the Crossroads property (building maintenance mechanic, janitor, grounds worker, maintenance assistant) though none were in the 2026 budget; members discussed partial cost recovery via DOT claims and a planned 3rd-floor buildout to house veterans and the Conflict Defender office.
Allegany County Public Works asked Jan. 7 for permission to create four new positions for its Crossroads property and to fill three of them immediately; the committee approved the motions by voice vote despite the positions not being in the 2026 budget.
Thomas Windus said the county seeks flexibility to fill a building maintenance mechanic, a janitor, a groundskeeper and a maintenance assistant but expects to staff three positions initially. Windus said the janitor role would be 100% assigned to the Crossroads building while the groundskeeper and maintenance mechanic would serve multiple county campuses. Committee members asked whether the positions could be funded or partially offset by prior contracts and grants; members noted some services (e.g., park-and-ride mowing and snow removal) had previously been reimbursed through DOT (5311) funding.
Windus acknowledged the GL (general ledger) codes for these positions were not included in the current 2026 budget and said staff had requested a GL code to charge expenses. Members urged prudence in creating new hires shortly after a hiring freeze discussion in December and suggested additional scrutiny at Ways and Means. The committee carried the create-and-fill motions and asked staff to work with administration on funding and documentation before Ways and Means review.
Separately, Windus and other members updated progress on a 3rd-floor buildout to relocate the mail room, create space for the Conflict Defender and move the veterans office; Windus said HVAC and electrical work remain and that the buildout is a necessary step to enable several downstream office moves.
