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Clinton County Legislature approves higher pay grades for nursing staff over dissent
Summary
On Nov. 14 the Legislature approved three resolutions reallocating Staff Nurse, Senior Staff Nurse and Head Nurse positions to higher union pay grades (Resolutions #921–#923). Legislator Mark Dame opposed, urging exit interviews and workplace changes; votes carried 8-1-1.
The Clinton County Legislature voted on Nov. 14 to reallocate several nursing positions to higher union pay grades in a series of resolutions intended to improve recruitment and retention at the county nursing home.
Resolution #921, "Approving Reallocation of Staff Nurse Positions from Union Scale Grade 18 up to Grade 20," was the focal point of debate. Legislator Mark Dame said he opposed the reallocation and the companion measures because he does not believe pay increases alone will fix retention problems. "It was the intention of the Committee to help with recruitment and retention at the Nursing Home. I am not convinced that throwing additional money will help," Dame said, noting that exit interviews are not conducted and that working conditions should be examined.
Legislator Robert Hall disagreed and supported the reallocation, saying the county should show appreciation for nurses. "We are very happy with the work they do, and they deserve this upgrade," Hall said. Legislator Mark Henry said he agreed that exit interviews should be conducted but supported the reallocations. Legislator Rob Timmons described the supporting information for positions that reached the floor as "well substantiated," and compared county nursing pay to hospital rates as a rationale for the change. The full motion on Resolution #921 carried by a roll-call tally recorded in the minutes as 8-1-1, with Legislator Mark Dame voting no.
The Legislature also approved Resolution #922 (reallocation of Senior Staff Nurse positions from Grade 21 to Grade 23) and Resolution #923 (reallocation of Head Nurse positions from Grade 21 to Grade 23), each carried 8-1-1 with Dame voting no. The minutes say Legislator Hall will revisit pay and reallocation for Nurse's Aides and LPNs in a future discussion.
Votes at a glance: Resolutions #921–#923 (nursing reallocations) — all carried 8-1-1; Resolutions #851–#920 and #924–#936 were reported as approved in bulk during the meeting minutes with no individual tallies recorded in the stenographic minutes.
Why it matters: The reallocations change pay-grade classifications for nursing staff at the county nursing home and are intended to improve recruitment and retention. Opponents urged a broader review of retention drivers, including exit interviews and working conditions.
What’s next: Legislator Hall indicated he will bring forward further proposals for Nurse's Aides and LPNs; no additional timetable was recorded in the minutes.
