Washington County personnel panel approves staffing-pattern changes and adds part‑time DSS caseworker

The Washington County Personnel Committee on May 7 approved a string of personnel moves to fill vacancies and adjust staffing patterns across county departments.

Chairman Hall called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and the committee unanimously approved the minutes of its April 9 meeting. Danelle LaPann, the county Personnel Officer, told the panel that backfill approvals are now handled by the Personnel Officer and the county administrator and summarized a slate of vacancies across departments, including Office for Aging (Aging Services Aide), Code Enforcement (Code Enforcement Officer), the County Clerk’s office (Clerk and Senior Motor Vehicle License Clerk), Public Works (Highway Sign Maintenance Supervisor), Public Health (Registered Professional Nurse) and multiple positions in the Veterans Office.

Lisa Boyce, County Clerk, asked the committee to amend the motor‑vehicle staffing pattern to remove one Senior Motor Vehicle License Clerk and add one Motor Vehicle License Clerk. Boyce said there is currently no internal candidate ready for promotion to the supervisory duties and that the county may revisit a supervisory appointment in September. Mr. Wang moved the amendment; Mrs. Clary seconded, and the motion was adopted.

Duane Vaughn, commissioner of the Department of Social Services, asked the committee to convert a contracted service into an in‑house, part‑time Caseworker Assistant position. Vaughn said the department received a Temporary Disability Assistance grant of about $165,385, and that roughly $60,000 of the grant currently pays a nonprofit to provide about eight hours weekly of family‑centered management services. Vaughn recommended ending that contract when the grant period begins July 1 and hiring a part‑time employee for roughly 24 hours a week instead, using the same $60,000 allocation. The committee voted to add the position on the condition that the job ends if grant funding is discontinued; members noted a budget amendment will be needed to move funds from contractual services to personal services.

The committee also approved a Planning Department request allowing Amy Hoffer to carry over six vacation days. Supervisor Hahn objected to a policy that requires employees to use all vacation by their anniversary date, saying, “I look at vacation time as something that they earn just like their paycheck and we’re telling them how to spend it.” The Personnel Officer said policy already allows up to five days to roll over in extraordinary circumstances and explained the county’s concern that unused vacation becomes a payout liability when employees leave county service. The motion to approve the six‑day carryover was adopted.

The panel entered an executive session to discuss personnel matters and later returned to open session; no action was taken during the executive session. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

What this means: The committee’s approvals authorize hiring or recruiting to fill multiple vacancies and permit one new, grant‑funded part‑time position in DSS, but several items (such as supervisory promotions and the budget amendment to reclassify contract dollars) will require follow‑up steps by county staff. The actions taken do not create permanent, guaranteed funding beyond the life of the identified grant for the DSS position.