Ways and Means Committee approves contingency transfer and authorizes multiple county hires

The Allegany County Ways and Means Committee on April 22 approved a resolution to transfer $15,048.93 from contingency to cover Industrial Development Agency operating expenses through Dec. 31, 2025, and authorized a slate of county job postings and hires across multiple departments.

County Treasurer Jenna Kelly told the committee the IDA’s operating expense total was $17,198.93 and that the agency received $2,150 in rent for January and February, leaving a $15,048.93 shortfall. “We’re requesting a resolution for a budget modification from contingency to cover IDA operating expenses through 12/31/25,” Kelly said. The motion was moved by Mr. Demick, seconded by Mr. Heavy and approved by voice vote.

The committee also accepted a supplemental insurance payment. Clerk of the Board Brenda requested a resolution to accept a check for $663.76 related to repairs to a Chevrolet Tahoe; she noted the board previously accepted $4,154.25 in March under resolution 155-26. “This is actually a supplemental charge associated with repairing a Chevy Tahoe,” Brenda said before the committee approved the acceptance by voice vote.

Several personnel referrals were read and approved as committee referrals to the full board for position creation or hiring. Among them: • Public Works requested permission to fill a full-time bridge maintenance heavy motor equipment operator (salary estimated $46,000–$56,000; benefits $20,000–$24,000), funded 100% by county dollars and included in the 2026 budget. • Public Safety (acting District Attorney Peter Degnan) requested authority to fill a full-time paralegal position (salary estimated $51,000–$77,000; benefits $20,000–$30,000), funded 100% by county funds and included in the 2026 budget. • Human Services Commissioner Don Horn requested and the committee approved multiple hires in the Department of Social Services, including a Director of Temporary Assistance (salary $59,600–$82,500; funding 38% county / 10% state / 52% federal), a social welfare examiner (salary $41,000–$49,000; same funding split), a caseworker (salary $47,900–$59,700; funded 35.57% county / 21.89% state / 42.54% federal), and a community services worker (salary $41,000–$49,000; 100% federal funds). • Planning requested a temporary office aide position (salary estimated $6,700–$7,500; benefits $1,615–$1,817), funded 100% by county funds and included in the 2026 budget. • Employment & Training Director Rita Sobik Lynch requested permission to fill a temporary summer youth employment and training counselor (estimated salary $8,400; benefits about $2,000), funded 100% with federal SYEP funds and contingent on receipt of that funding; the committee noted final hiring would depend on confirmation of the SYEP allocation. • County Treasurer Jenna Kelly requested a senior tax specialist position for the Treasurer’s office (salary estimated $43,000–$53,000; benefits $19,000–$23,000), funded 100% by county funds and included in the 2026 budget.

Each referral was moved and seconded on the record and approved by voice vote; committee practice on these items was unanimous voice approval with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. A committee member asked Treasurer Kelly to provide a quarterly report showing amounts drawn from contingency in the first quarter; Kelly agreed to provide that report.

The meeting concluded after the clerk noted there was no unfinished business and a caucus in the DPW conference room was announced for 1:20 p.m. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and the committee adjourned.