Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Extension Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves full-time hours for Extension Office manager after tie and phone vote
Summary
After two tied roll calls, the council reopened the motion when a member joined by phone and approved increasing the Extension Office manager’s hours to 33.5 per week (from 20), a budgeted change costing an estimated $9,000 and not requiring added insurance coverage.
The Bay County Council voted to increase the Extension Office manager’s hours from 20 to 33.5 per week after an extended discussion and two tied votes.
Extension director Miss McCertie asked the council to approve the additional hours so the office could be open more days and meet program needs. She said the position’s additional 13.5 hours is already budgeted and estimated the incremental cost at roughly $9,000 for the remainder of the year; the director also said the employee does not plan to accept county-provided insurance for the added hours.
Council discussion reflected concerns about overall county hiring freeze and fiscal constraints; initial roll calls produced 3–3 ties. The council temporarily paused the vote while seeking a procedural option. Council member Sharon Cranfield then joined on speaker phone; the body reopened the motion, held another roll call and passed the change 4–3. The manager reportedly will be offered insurance but has declined it as part of this change.
Extension staff and the manager told the council that current coverage gaps reduce the office’s ability to deliver 4-H and other programming, and that some work is being completed after hours because the office lacks sufficient coverage. The council instructed staff to work with commissioners to finalize the administrative paperwork so the position’s hours can be implemented through payroll.
The council did not change the salary ordinance or add new full-time headcount beyond this budgeted hours increase; councilors noted current financial uncertainty and encouraged the director to return with any further requests or clarifying job descriptions.
