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Commissioners allow Communications deputy to fill unfilled dispatch shifts at 1.5x pay
Summary
To ease forced overtime and morale problems in the Communications Department, the board authorized the Communications Deputy Director to cover unfilled dispatch shifts at 1.5 times hourly pay; the vote was unanimous.
Acting Administrator Jill Flaherty told the Sagadahoc County Board of Commissioners the Communications Department is down two positions and has relied on forced overtime when open shifts go unfilled. To reduce burnout and morale problems, the union requested that the Communications Deputy Director be permitted to fill unfilled dispatch shifts and be compensated at 1.5 times her hourly rate. The board voted unanimously to approve the change; Commissioner Steve August moved the motion and Commissioner McPhee seconded.
Flaherty said the change would be "a wash either way" for the department's budget and that the Deputy Director is a salaried employee but would be performing a different job function if she fills dispatch shifts. Commissioners asked whether regular staff would continue to be offered shifts first and whether the situation was expected to be long-term; Flaherty said regular employees would be offered shifts first and the position listing is active on the county website.
The authorization is framed as a short-term measure while recruitment continues; commissioners signaled support but asked staff to monitor the situation if it extends longer than anticipated.
