Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections And Clerk topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clerk wins approval to recruit chief deputy; council clears poll-worker hires but delays pay-line vote until March
Summary
Council authorized the county clerk to recruit a new chief deputy and approved hiring numerous poll workers for the upcoming primary after staff warned the hiring freeze had prevented early recruitment. Council separated the clerk's request for a temporary pay/training line, tabling that item until March 10 pending HR confirmation about the outgoing deputy's final date.
The Monroe County Council on Feb. 24 approved the county clerk's request to recruit a new chief deputy and unanimously authorized hiring dozens of election workers needed for early voting and the primary.
Clerk Nicole/Clark Brown said the outgoing chief deputy will be using accrued vacation and the office needs the ability to begin recruitment so operations and election preparations are not disrupted. Because the clerk is a constitutional officer with authority to appoint a chief deputy, councilors debated procedure and pay logistics, ultimately separating the hiring authority (approved) from a temporary "training" salary line that would let the county pay an incoming deputy while the outgoing employee is still on the payroll. That second item was tabled to the March 10 council meeting so HR can confirm the actual last day and prevent two employees being paid from the same line.
Elections staff described a broad, time-sensitive hiring list for the primary: inspectors, judges, clerks, absentee processors and recruiters. The clerk stressed that under past hiring-freeze interpretations poll workers were blocked from being hired early, which complicates compliance with statutory absentee-processing deadlines; she said some absentee staff needed to start next week. Council approved the initial slate unanimously but staff acknowledged they may return with supplemental requests if volumes require additional travel-board teams or reconcilers.
Clerk Brown and elections staff also raised logistical concerns about temporary space in the Showers Building: limited phone lines, unsecured cabinetry and constrained workspace that could hamper voter services during the peak period. Councilors requested updates on phone-line fixes and operational readiness.
Quote: "These are the individuals who process the applications for vote by mail... those 4 for sure, I'm gonna have to try to get in as quickly as possible," elections staff said of absentee processing roles that must begin in early March.
Next steps: Clerk's office will begin recruitment for chief deputy; staff will work with HR on the timing of the training-pay line and report back at the March 10 meeting. Elections staff will proceed with hires authorized tonight and return if they need additional positions or appropriations.
