Warren County committee reclassifies planner position to retain junior staff, cites $20,000 annual savings

The Warren County Economic Growth & Development Planning Committee on March 24 approved a personnel reclassification in the planning department intended to retain a high-performing junior planner.

Ethan, the department’s planning lead, said the county plans to eliminate a vacant principal planner position (previous salary cited at about $84,000) and create a senior planner position at a lower grade (about $62,000) to promote an internal candidate and avoid losing staff. "I've had a recent vacancy in the department with the principal planner position... I also have a really high performing person, a junior planner position. So, I'd like to eliminate the principal planner position... so that I have the opportunity to retain this valuable staff member," he said. He estimated overall county savings at approximately $20,000 a year.

Several supervisors asked for written details before future votes. Supervisor Patchet said the committee previously received fuller packets when positions were considered and asked for a job description: "I think it's important if I'm going to vote on this that I know exactly what I'm approving." Committee members explained that, under current rules, departments may fill budgeted positions without committee approval and that the practice to circulate job descriptions had been scaled back in recent years. Ethan agreed to provide a job description for future personnel changes.

The committee moved the item to the floor and approved the reclassification by voice vote. The committee did not provide a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript; members indicated approval by saying "I."

The committee discussion distinguished between approving the reclassification and the administrative authority departments retain to fill budgeted positions; supervisors insisted on receiving job descriptions and other documentation when organizational changes are presented at committee for action.