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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 4-S-86 - 4-10-1986 - SALARY455 SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA Metro Petrosky, Jr. -RANK R. MASCARA. 6X.1;R j6: � bMeQ & DWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Minute No. 4-S-86 Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., April 10, 1986 The Washington County Salary Board met in session in the Public Meeting Room of the Courthouse Square Office Building, Washington, Pennsylvania, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, 1986, with the following members being present: Commissioners Mascara and Petrosky and Controller Beharry. Absent being: Commissioner Paluso who was out of town. Also being present: Chief Clerk Dallatore; Lou Lignelli, Director of Administration; Executive Assistant DuJordan; Administrative Assistant Davis; Margaret Pennline and Janice Urban, Personnel Office; Kevin Humble, Budget Director; Judi Lomago, Executive Secretary; Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno II; Becky Bailey and Edna Dorisio, Controller's Office; Barbara Miller, Observer -Reporter; Natalie Eddy, Herald -Standard; and Phil Garrow, Brownsville Telegraph. Approval of Minutes Chairman Mascara asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissiors to Minute No. 2-S-86 dated February 27, 1986, each member having received a copy. Moved by Miss Beharry, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, that Minute No. 2-S-86 be approved as written. Roll call vote taken: Miss Beharry - Yes; Mr. Petrosky - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Mascara asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 3-S-86 dated March 20, 1986, each member having received a copy. Moved by Miss Beharry, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, that Minute No. 3-S-86 be approved as written. Roll call vote taken: Miss Beharry - Yes; Mr. Petrosky - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. 4121-121 - ELECTIONS Moved by Miss Beharry, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, approving the following: Canvass Board - CREATE twelve (12) positions for the Primary and General Elections - $30.00 per day Ballot Inspector - CREATE forty (40) positions for the Primary and General Elections - $30.00 per day Transfer Carriers - CREATE four (4) positions for the Primary and General Elections - $30.00 per day Trusties - CREATE fifteen (15) positions for the Primary and General Elections - $10.00 per trusty Roll call vote taken: Miss Beharry - Yes; Mr. Petrosky - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. 456 SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Q P �/ 7 WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA.lrt7.AY1rPJ`k.J,, c W1 ,D ARD IDI.'PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS _ 4136-136 - TAX ASSESSMENT Moved by Miss Beharry, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, approving the following: Kenneth Blahey, Assessor, California - $10.50 Roll call vote taken: Miss Beharry - Yes; Mr. Petrosky - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. The followinq items are noted for the record only: 4152-152 - PUBLIC DEFENDER Bette Jo Aloia, Clerk Typist I, Grade 2, (8090) RAte 4.777, 181.53, new hire, part time employee, eff. 3-31-86 4186-228 - MAGISTRATE QUAIL Kathy Poindexter, D.J. Secretary, Grade 4, (809b) Rate 5.002, 32.51/day, new hire, per diem employee, eff. 3-20-86 4186-231 - MAGISTRATE MCGRAW Mary Jo English, Clerk Typist I, Grade 2, (8090') Rate 4.777, new hire, part time employee, eff. 4-2-86 4236-536 - ADULT PROBATION Diane Tkach, Probation Ofcr. I, resignation, eff. 4-11-86 4237-537 - JUVENILE PROBATION Mark Baldini, Probation Officer Intern, Grade 7, (80906) Rate 5.376, 349.44, 9,085.44, new hire, replaces Dean Kenefick, eff. 3-31-86 4312-2310 - BRIDGE Tom Vadella, returned within 30 days from Parks bid, eff. 3-31-86 4411-402 - AGING SERVICES Eleanor Waleski, Caseworker, resignation, eff. 4-18-86 Susan O'Bryan, Cook, per diem employee, worked March 26, 27, 31 and April 1 Mary Sape, Cook, per diem employee, worked March 31 and April 1 Elizabeth Toth, Cook, per diem employee, worked March 24 Linda Harms, Caseworker, Grade 7, (8090') Rate 5.376, 349.44, 9085.44, new hire, replaces Cathy McVay, eff. 4-1-86 4421-300 - CHILDREN & YOUTH Ellen Curran, Caseworker, maternity leave, 6-4-86 to 12-4-86 Dale Watson, Caseworker, military leave, 4-19-86 to 5-3-86 4461-1020 - HEALTH CENTER Joyce Hoit, LPN, Grade 6, (8090) Rate 6.441, new hire, part time employee, eff. 4-9-86 Carolyn Marich, LPN, Grade 6, (809b) Rate 6.441, new hire, part time employee, eff. 4-9-86 Jean Lombardi, Nurses Aide, deceased 3-30-86 Joyce Grayson, Nurses Aide, resignation, eff. 4-3-86 Barbara Reed, Nurses Aide, temporary to full time, eff. 3-23-86 (DOE 12-4-85) Betty Kudack, Nurses Aide, temporary to full time, eff. 3-23-86 (DOE 12-4-85) SALARY MINUTE B O O K 457 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS jj�v�pp{{�� 77� WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA.�kTAy ir. la-MA6nt D4VA�RD PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS HEALTH CENTER (continued) (1020) Roy Appel, Nurses Aide, from Grade 2, Step B, Rate 5.909, 472.72, 12,290.72 to Grade 2, Step 1, Rate 6.044, 483.52, 12,571.52, mobility bid, K. Woods' money, eff. 3-23-86 Jamie Hullak, Nurses Aide, per diem to temporary, eff. 4-6-86 Marguerite Rose, Nurses Aide, per diem to temporary, eff. 4-6-86 (1050) Dennis Gibbs, Food Service Worker, temporary to full time, eff. 4-12-86 (DOE 12-7-85) Arley Crow, Food Service Worker, resignation, eff. 3-18-85 Robert Stnisha, Food Service Worker, from Grade 1, Step B, Rate 5.777, 462.16, 12,016.16 to Grade 1, Step 1, Rate 5.909, 472.72, 12,290.72, mobility bid, Arley Crow's money, eff. 4-12-86 (1053) Ed Sukal, Housekeeper, temporary to full time, eff. 4-2-86 (DOE 3-3-86) Americo Sion, Housekeeper, from Grade 1, Step B, Rate 5.777, 462.16, 12,016.16 to Grade 1, Step 1, Rate 5.909, 472.72, 12,290.72, mobility bid, Donna Matthews' money, eff. 3-23-86 4550-1551 - PARKS Jerry Jericho, did not accept position of Utility Worker Joseph Duche, Utility Worker, Grade 2, (80/%) Rate 4.777, 310.51, 8,073.26, new hire, temporary employee, eff. 3-31-86, replaces Tom Vadella who went back to Bridge Dept. Richard Pokol, from Nurses Aide, Grade 2, Step 1, Rate 6.044, 483.52, 12,571.52 to Utility Worker, Grade 2, Step 1, Rate 6.107, 396.96, 10,320.96, job bid, Ron Smith's slot, transfer from Health Center, eff. 4-1-86 Richard Pokol, from Utility Worker, Grade 2, Step 1, Rate 6.107, 396.96, 10,320.96 to Utility Worker Supervisor (Wkg.), Grade 4, Step 1, Rate 6.398, 415.87, 10,812.62, job bid, Tom Vadella returned to Bridge Department within 30 days, eff. 4-7-86 4133-133 - CONTROLLER Chairman Mascara made note of Controller'Beharry'g request for a Salary Board meeting for the purpose of considering the creation of an Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, position. Miss Beharry: Well, I called the meeting on Monday in light of the preliminary injunction issued by Judge Acker on Friday, March 4th, which strictly prohibits the Controller from working anyone in the Controller's Office out of their classi- fication. That is the cornerstone of the problem that the Controller faces cur- rently because a particular classification, Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, was abolished on January 6th. That work, the work that was done by that individual, Edna Dorisio, must be performed if any general disbursement pay- ments are to be approved and entered for payment. In light of the order and in light of the... There are two concerns as I understood Judge Acker's position. One was that working someone out of their classification was a violation of the collective bargaining agreement; and, two, it creates a financial liability to work someone out of their ... to work someone at a rate that the Salary Board has not created. The Controller finds herself in a Catch 22. I liken it to if you have a truck driver and you have a shotgun rider and you're told that you can no longer work someone in the driver capacity ---you can't work the shotgun rider in `tt% SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA Metro Petrosky, Jr. FRANK R. MASCARA,. D.Ai/IQkaAS46MDRFr E,DWARLI M. PAL IISO,. COMMISSIONERS the driver capacity and you can't work the driver in the driver capacity, but somehow you have to move the truck and it just can't happen. The truck is going to sit there until you get the driver position back. So without the Accounts Payable Working Supervisor being legally recreated by the Salary Board, the work I that Mrs. Dorisio did at a higher rate cannot be done without violating the collective bargaining agreement or without generating a financial liability for this County. Therefore, it becomes essential that position be created. It is also, I think, important to note that that work in 1983 was being done by John Patterson who was an Accountant at a Pay Grade 10; and in 1983 Mr. Patterson was earning over $8.40 an hour. The work that Mrs. Dorisio is now expected to do at $7.45 an hour, $7.46 an hour some 2-1/2 years later. It was with the agreement of the County and with the agreement of the Union that the office was reorganized in November of 1983 and distribution of those responsibilities at that rate of pay, the Accounts Payable Working Supervisor rate of pay, were to be assigned. Mr. Petrosky: With an increase in pay? Miss Beharry: Pardon me? Mr. Petrosky: With an increase in pay? Miss Beharry: Yes, there was an increase in pay. I think Edna's classification prior to the reorganization was Accounts Payable Clerk and she took on the addi- tional responsibilities of the Accountant and we called it Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, because we didn't give her a Pay Grade 10; we gave her a Pay Grade 8 from, I think, a 6 or a 7; I'm not sure. But it was a compromise reached by the County and the Union. One I think that was very favorable to the County at the time in saving two pay grades. But it is just a situation where the work cannot be performed in light of the court order unless that position is recreated. Moved by Miss Beharry for the recreation of the Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, position at a Pay Grade 8-5, $7.886 per hour. Mr. Mascara: What justification other than the historical background that you gave us ... do you have a further problem? I understand that you're not processing things now. There are food bids, JTPA people, foster parents ... you are more or less grinding this .... paying these bills to a halt. You know..is that an inten- tional... Are you directing your employees to slow down in light of the court order that Judge Acker handed down? What changed since Judge Acker handed his order down? Before that you were able to ... You know, I think what I'm asking is... Miss Beharry: I know what you're asking. Mr. Mascara: I think you need to take a look at...You know, are you intentionalli doing this to show the Courts that they're not going to tell you what to do and how to do it, that you're going to run your own office? Miss Beharry: No, as a matter of fact, Mr. Mascara, just the opposite is true. This is occurring because I have complied with the court order. I accept Judge Acker's decision and I accept Judge Acker's.... SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PP(p? ��r7`j/ WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FRANK, R,. MASC.A RA,;,AP�'1!�(TS,�l9�1,L IpGE.ov tDw"A RDrPALU30, COMMISSIONERS Mr. Mascara: No, I don't think Judge Acker told you to stop paying bills. Miss Beharry: Judge Acker said I am not permitted to work anyone out of their classification. Mr. Mascara: Nobody is. That is by union contract. Miss Beharry: That's fine. Mr. Mascara: We negotiated that ten years ago ... twelve years ago. Miss Beharry: I understand. But I am not permitted to work anyone out of their classification. Therefore, the work that was being done by the Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, can no longer be done. Mr. Mascara: Tell me this. What is the difference between an Accounts Payable, Working Supervisor, and an Accounts Payable Clerk? What is the difference? Miss Beharry: The quality ... the kind of work that has to be done, number one. The job that Edna Dorisio bumped into is a rather functional kind of job. It's a purchase order job whereby... Mr. Mascara: No, she's an Accounts Payable Clerk... Miss Beharry: That's correct. Mr. Mascara: That means that she's going to process bills... Miss Beharry: The assigned duties of that job that she bumped into are processing purchase orders. That's what the individual she replaced did for the hourly rate that she is now earning, and it's a job whereby you take an invoice, you take a purchase order number, you take a purchase order receiving copy, you compare figures, you extend ... you prepare encumbrances and you pay a bill. What the Accountant's position did two years ago is far more complex. It requires far more ability than the payment of purchase orders in this County; and, in fact, the job was created to approve the work of both Accounts Payable Clerks before it could be entered for payment. There is no way that the work that is sitting on that desk, and you're welcome to come up and see it, there's no way that the work sitting on that desk can be done without generating another grievance under the collective bargaining agreement for a rate of pay of the Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor. Mr. Petrosky: You know, I find it very interesting in terms of your recant, Miss Beharry, in terms of the responsibilities of the two positions; and I have before me the job descriptions of both, and I also understand that and I don't think that I was Commissioner at the time that this Accounts Payable Clerk, Work- ing Supervisor, position was developed, but I understand that you and Mrs. Penn - line worked in concert in terms of developing the job description for both and, quite frankly, there are very little differences between the two. Miss Beharry: That's correct, but the supervisor concept is the approval of all work done by Accounts Payable Clerks for entry for payment. That is a corner- stone, Mr. Petrosky, and that was the job that Mr. Patterson did as an Accountant. I 4 � T 60 SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA, 0W,,F CXb6�QU2MWFW-_ EDWARD M. PALUSO, CnMM13SIONERS Mr. Petrosky: I can understand your explanation although I have a problem in understanding if Mrs. Dorisio is the cornerstone of your operation; and as I pointed out in your reorganization of 1983 when you moved her into that Working Supervisor slot, she got the additional money... i Miss Beharry: Some additional money. Mr. Petrosky: No, she got the additional money for that slot. I don't know how much, but she did receive a raise... Miss Beharry: She didn't get what John Patterson was getting. Mr. Petrosky: Well, I don't know if she has the same credentials as John Patterson... Miss Beharry: Well, she doesn't have the same credentials; that's true, but she... Mr. Petrosky: That's your word. I don't know if that's true. But to get back to my point, I'm just curious as to what position or what role, what functional role, in terms of the administration of your office, that you Deputy plays be- cause what you've explained, again I'm going by job description, what you've explained is exactly what your Deputy is supposedly to do. Now, I don't under- stand how the Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, can be such a corner- stone in your office when your Deputy has the same responsibilities and more... Miss Beharry: Well, I don't think. Mr. Petrosky: I'm going by the job description. That's not an assumption on my part. That's not an assumption. Miss Beharry: The Deputy Controller does not have the same responsibilities by any stretch of the imagination. Mr. Petrosky: But the Deputy Controller could have or could supervise that position. Miss Beharry: But we find ourselves in a position where we cannot because of tho collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Petrosky: That doesn't impact on the Deputy Controller; he's management. Miss Beharry: That most certainly does. Mr. Petrosky: He's management. Mr. Mascara: Do you mean a Deputy Controller can't supervise? Miss Beharry: Can supervise, certainly. Mr. Mascara: Well, can't he supervise the Accounts Payable... Mr. Petrosky: He can do any duty that you give him. He is management. Miss Beharry: No, he cannot. He cannot. Mr. Petrosky: Oh, he absolutely can. Miss Beharry: He cannot without violating the collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Petrosky: Does he act in your stead? Miss Beharry: Yes, he does. Mr. Petrosky: Is that a Constitutional requirement? ffJ C SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MMpp{rp �p{ [�g�y WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA:Y , ,,LE Q.,lrY1�7N� W 04VRDU. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Miss Beharry: A statutory requirement. Mr. Petrosky: Right, a statutory requirement. Miss Beharry: That's correct. I cannot... Mr. Petrosky: And you're going to say that he cannot because it violates the collective bargaining agreement? Miss Beharry: Without violating the collective bargaining agreement, I cannot assign the Deputy Controller to bargaining unit work. Mr. Petrosky: Why? I'd like to hear the explanation for that. Mr. Mascara: He's not going to do bargaining work; he's going to supervise the Accounts Payable Clerk. Miss Beharry: Mrs. Pennline, in terms of the collective bargaining agreement, we cannot abolish a position ... you know what I'm referring to in the collective bar- gaining agreement that would not permit us to abolish a job and assign it to supervisory... Mr. Petrosky: You know as well as I do, you know as well as I do, that that does not apply to your Deputy. You know that. Miss Beharry: That I could have my Deputy do the Accounts Payable Clerk, Working — Mr. Petrosky: You know that; you know that. Mr. Mascara: You can have him supervise the work... Mr. Petrosky: No, you can have him supervise. Miss Beharry: Not if I had a bargaining person working in that supervisory job. Mr. Petrosky: You can have that individual approve the bills. I'm not saying to get down and do the work itself. I'm not implying that at all. I'm just talking about it from the supervisory aspect, Miss Beharry. Miss Beharry: If you just talk about approving, then you're also eliminating the payment of a very large portion of the County's obligations because the specific work of the payment of foster children or contract employees was work assigned to Mrs. Dorisio at a higher rate, and I honestly believe... Mr. Petrosky: You're still not responding to my question. Miss Beharry: What? Mr. Petrosky: I think what it appears on the surface, and I don't know whether this is indeed fact because I'm not privy to the operations of your office, but what you've done is superseded the responsibilities of your Deputy Controller on to Mrs. Dorisio's shoulders. I think that's what you've done. Miss Beharry: I don't know how you can say that. Mr. Mascara: She calls most of the shots. Miss Beharry: You say you don't know that... Mr. Petrosky: I said I was not privy to your operation; but on the surface, and I'm going by the job descriptions that I have in front of me, Miss Beharry, and I understand a little bit about the responsibilities of the Deputy because of 462 SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCA; FA fIa YID 1(M3dOMOR& EDWARD M_ PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS being the Clerk of Courts and having a Deputy, being a row official, and I under- stand what their responsibilities are and I also understand what their responsi- bilities can be and... Miss Beharry: Are you suggesting... Mr. Petrosky: And, and, and what I am saying to you based on my opinion and evaluation of what I have in terms of these job descriptions, there is a better way to do it than you're doing it; that's all. Miss Beharry: Are you suggesting that Mr. Hulton should sit at the Accounts Payable Clerk... Mr. Petrosky: That's not for me to decide. I think that's a decision... Miss Beharry: Are you suggesting... Mr. Petrosky: Na. I think that's a decision for you to make as the person responsible for the operation of your office. I think that you have enough intellect and ennugh abilities to determine where there may be a problem, where there may be weaknesses, where there may be weaknesses in your operation and to do the best job that you can to sure up these weaknesses. But, you know for some reason, I don't get that impression that you're doing that. I get the impression that you're trying to create a crisis. I get the impression that you're thumbing your nose at the court decision that was set down by Judge Acker last Friday. I think that you have, in fact, placed Mrs. Dorisio in a position where she makes the decisions over and above your (Deputy) Controller and I think your operation is shoddy at best. That's what I think. Miss Beharry: For someone who says you know nothing about it, you've... Mr. Petrosky: And I would like to go... Miss Beharry: You've certainly made some very strong conclusions, Mr. Petrosky. Mr. Petrosky: Oh, I am entitled. I am entitled to my opinion. And I would like to go one step further. You like to imply that this is a recent problem. This is not a recent problem. We've been having problems with you paying bills and vendors since I took office as Commissioner... Miss Beharry: That's correct. Mr. Petrosky: ...and for one reason or another, either you don't have a solicitc.r, you don't have a secretary, you don't have this, you don't have that. You don't get the job done. That's the bottom line. You do not get the job done, Miss Beharry. And I would like to go one step further. I don't think your efforts this past week have indicated to me that you are making a sincere effort to com- ply with the court order. I think what you're doing is you're trying to sabotage: that court order, and I think Judge Acker relates to that in the court order where he simply says that you are not going to coerce him in making the proper decisior. by implying that you're going to shut down the County and not pay the bills; and based on the information that I have in terms of this week's checkrun, you did not make one payment to one vendor. a I I SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA � '�V�F'�¢it[A4�i�EDWARtD iNr PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS Mr. Mascara: You didn't pay 45 foster parents; you didn't pay the Children and Youth homes; you didn't pay 100 JTPA payments; no food bids; no travel expenses; no regular vendors; no postage; no jurors; no witnesses; and I don't think this County, its taxpayers and its voters and its courts are going to condone that, Miss Beharry. I think you ought to make a sincere attempt until we can come to a satisfactory resolution of the problem that you think exists. I think you should go up there and prioritize your work ... you should go to work instead of being a litigator. Every Controller I knew worked somehow, worked with something in helping to process bills, payments, audits, something; and you want to be a litigator... That's your decision to make. You've chosen that, but I don't think you can ask the people who this County owe money to that they should wait because you've chosen to do something else. You know, I think you're a bright person and I think you have alot on the ball, but you're going off in the wrong direction. You owe it to the people of this County. They elected you. Miss Beharry: Let me respond to a couple of Mr. Petrosky's comments, if I may. That the problem of adequate staff in the Controller's Office has been there sinc= I took office, that it was compounded shortly before you became a Commissioner when the Controller was required to do audits of the district justices; and the Commissioners could not see fit to add any additional staff to the Controller's Office in order to comply with the new statutory requirement. When you are re- quired to perform additional statutory duties, when your staff is consistently diminished which is in light of additional statutory responsibilities, it becomes more and more difficult to perform the job of County Controller and to perform it timely and correctly. When I first became the Controller in 1982, on my first day in office, one of the things I said to the people in the office was do what you do correctly; do the small things right and the big things will fall into place. I am not interested as the Controller who is responsible under the law to insure the legality of payments and processing of checks; that's not my business to pay bills. It is my obligation to determine, to scrutinize and deter- mine the legality of those claims. Mr. Mascara: Now wait now. You have both pre -and post -audit functions. Miss Beharry: I understand that. Mr. Mascara: If you have a problem with a bill, you can set it aside and go on. But I understand that is not the case. I understand that some things happen... well, we got to wait and see what's going on. You know, get the bills out. If you want to pre -audit, that's fine, but if it's going to delay the processing of the bills, you can go to a post -audit function. Wait now, you can post -audit. You have both pre -and post -audit functions. I got one question for you. Does Beaver County, Cambria County, Cumberland County, Fayette County, Schuylkill County all have to audit their magistrates? Are they required by law to audit the magistates? SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS l WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA., 67 L.�i. Se�ti/1f�Slfi �E6 AR[) N_ it FALUSO., C=OMMISSIONERS Miss Beharry: Yes, they are. Mr. Mascara: Okay. Beaver County has seven employees... Miss Beharry: We've been through this before... Mr. Mascara: Let me finish. Cambria has five, Cumberland has seven, Fayette has seven, Schuylkill has seven, you have eleven. Now I would admit that you got to look at apples and apples. Miss Beharry: That's right. Mr. Mascara: I will admit that, but do you mean to tell me that you have four more than any other county of our size and you can't process the bills and audit the magistrates? Miss Beharry: Well, that's absolutely not an apple to apple comparison because in Fayette County they do not handle any of the health center bills. If you were: to take a look at the general fund budget for those counties and what payments they do not handle in those counties, you will see that that is not anywhere near a fair comparison. Mr. Mascara: Did not the CETA program shrink after you took office... Miss Beharry: Yes, it did and we're minus one employee there. Mr. Mascara: Where $2.2 million less that you have to ... that has to go through your office in the way of paying programs that... Miss Beharry: On an overall basis, that's not true. We've increased the amount of money that has to go through that office every year. Not under CETA, but every year we've increased the amount of... Mr. Mascara: Lou, would you want to elaborate on that. You're the old CETA Director. Mr. Liqnelli: Actually, the program went from $6 million to $3 million, Commis- sioner. In February, 1982, there was a Salary Board meeting whereby a reorgan.._ not a reorganization but voluntary demotions were taken by staff, furloughs were taken by staff and resignations were taken as a result of the decrease in the funding; and I felt at that time that two staff persons in the Controller's Office having full responsibility of processing the CETA contracts at that time, public service employment contracts under Titles II, IID, VI and special project;~ which were in excess of 120 projects, that there should have been some considera- tion of a reduction in staff there because the Job Training staff as well as other federally funded programs in the County have to pay indirect costs to support that office. I thought it was somewhat unfair that the administrative funds had to be reduced all under CETA administrative staff and it wasn't recipro- cated by the Controller's Office at all. I think what they started to do at that time was then probably adjust responsibilities of different areas, but what I'm saying is all factual. Mr. Mascara: Do you want to respond to that, that there have been no lessening of duties as a result of less money in your office? SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FRANKA`�77� R, MASCAR.PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Miss Beharry: Of course there have. There's one person who's working with CETA payments now instead of two in the Controller's Office. The other concept that you have to deal with is that even though any given program may have been reduced by any amount of money, the County has continued overall to grow in terms of the demands on the Controller's Office and the amount of money... Mr. Petrosky: But this is not singularly impacting upon your office. This is impacting on all of the offices; and, unfortunately, my first reorganizational meeting in 1984, I had to approach every single row official including yourself.. Miss Beharry: And ask them to give one position up. Mr. Petrosky: That's right, to give up... Miss Beharry: And I have now given up at least three... Mr. Petrosky: Excuse me .... to give up one position; and we have not replaced by and large in those row offices those people back, and their responsibilities con- tinue to grow but yet they function. They function, and it's not grinding any- body to a halt. They continue to function, and I keep asking myself why isn't that the case in your office? Why is it that we continually have to deal with the problem that you have in terms of paying a vendor? Miss Beharry: Because you have quadrupled the effect in the Controller's Office.,. than any other office. Mr. Petrosky: No, I haven't. Miss Beharry: The County has, the Commissioners, the Salary Board. The effect has quadrupled in that office. Mr. Petrosky: Miss Beharry, since November of 1983 when you went into a reorgani- zation, you had fourteen employees. You have eleven now. You have eleven now. So in that period of time, and I might add again that I'm going to remark that this not only had applies to your office 1100 but applies we're county -wide, because in 1980 down to 625 employees. the County over employees and now Miss Beharry: And that's a real distortion too, Mr. Petrosky. Mr. Petrosky: No, it isn't. I don't think it is at all. Miss Beharry: Yes, it is. You take the solicitors on payroll, you take the Assistant D.A.'s on payroll and you put them on contract and you say we're de- creasing the payroll in Washington County... Mr. Petrosky: Miss Beharry, Miss Beharry, Miss Beharry... Miss Beharry: ...and you're talking manpower in JTPA. These are such distortion3, Mr. Petrosky; it's absurd. Mr. Petrosky: Miss Beharry, I don't know how you can distort 625 from 1100. Miss Beharry: Because you're not comparing apples to apples. Mr. Petrosky: Oh, I see. Okay, well, if I may... Miss Beharry: We call someone an employee today and put them on contract... 4W SALARY MINUTE B O O K BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Metro Petrosky, Jr. WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA, 'D*WR A4.N&YLM,0Rat EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Mr. Mascara: He was just trying to make a point that generally, Pat, there's been a reduction in staffing patterns in Washington County. Let's agree to that Miss Beharry: I do agree to that, but the effect has been quadrupled in the Controller's Office; and isn't it interesting that in 1986 the only office to lose an employee, the only office, was the Controller's Office, after the Con- troller's Office lost an employee last fall when Mrs. Juran bid to the Health Center and I tried to have that job reclassified. The Controller's Office has lost two positions in the last six months. Mr. Petrosky: I don't think it's unusual. I think it's a matter of this Board has a real suspect of your motives. We're very suspicious of your motives. Miss Beharry: Well, that's a funny way to run a ship, Mr. Petrosky. Mr. Mascara: Well, you know, I think that if we sincerely felt you were making an effort ... We haven't seen that effort yet. Right now you're in a holding pattern trying to blackmail or coerce someone ... now, wait a minute. And I don't think that this County is going to tolerate it and I don't think the Courts are going to tolerate it, Pat. I think you better get upstairs and untell your staff' because I understand you told them, hey, don't do that, don't do this, don't do that... Miss Beharry: I told them... Mr. Mascara: Ah, wait a minute, wait a minute. You go up and tell your people, let's go to work and let's show the Commissioners that we want to do a good job and if I can prove that we need more employees. For instance, overtime. Why haven't you asked for overtime? Miss Beharry: Because it doesn't do any good to have somebody work overtime... Mr. Mascara: Have we ever turned you down for overtime, Pat? Miss Beharry: Pardon me? Mr. Mascara: Have we ever turned you down for overtime? Miss Beharry: I have not really requested it. Mr. Petrosky: In the past, Miss Beharry. Have we ever turned you down for over- time? Miss Beharry: You didn't have to turn me down for overtime. I didn't request it. I worked the people in the office... Mr. Petrosky: No, you didn't but your staff did, including your Deputy, and we were always very receptive to those requests. In fact, we've never turned you down and that went into the records ... and then... Miss Beharry: We could get into a full blown series about working... Mr. Mascara: I think you ought to call for some overtime for your office... Miss Beharry: I can't work anybody out of their classification without creating a lawsuit. - 'J SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FFtn,N R„ �I�4,S,J'4R4 A i:7 /Cyr1Te� �D+fNARD-1%.'PALUSO,COMMISSIONERS Mr. Mascara: I said I think you need to call us about some overtime. Miss Beharry: Why? Mr. Mascara: To process the bills, Pat. Miss Beharry: As I indicated to you, Mr. Mascara, in my letter, it's now not a question of time, it's what the employee isn't able to do. Mr. Mascara: I'm going to show you, Pat, how you deviate from the truth. Just give me one minute. Miss Beharry: Go ahead. Mr. Mascara: Did you not testify that the County had no policy regarding overtime? Miss Beharry: That's right. Mr. Mascara: Oka- Let me read it to you. (Quoting from minutes of Salary Board meeting of February 11, 1982, Minute No. 21-S) February 11, 82, "Controller Be - harry asked some questions in order to clarify the matter of overtime which must be authorized through the Personnel Department." And you said it didn't have to be when you testified. "She advised the Board that the magistrates' secretaries and clerk -typists have been paid, in the past, for 80 hours which was not authori- zed through the Personnel Office." And you keep saying authorized. "She stated that she would be sending out a notice to the magistrates that effective immediately, the County would only recognize 65 hours unless they receive authorization. She added that no one will be paid overtime unless authorized. Miss Beharry also advised the Board that the Judges will be having a meeting on (next) Monday (2-15-82) regarding overtime for court reporters." You sat up there and you swore to teii the truth, the whole truth and you lied through your teeth, and I want an explana- tion why you lied to the Courts and perjured yourself. Miss Beharry: Mr. Mascara, I did not perjure myself. You refer to a Salary Board minute and to a statement that... Mr. Mascara: Where you said you wouldn't pay any overtime unless it was authorized by the policy of this County... Miss Beharry: And I did not and I have not. Mr. Mascara: And you said there was no policy. Miss Beharry: That statement doesn't contain the word policy. This Board of Commissioners has never adopted a policy. There... Mr. Mascara: What was that thing we turned in as an exhibit; that wasn't a police? The Judge said it was a policy, didn't he? Did the Judge say it was a policy? Miss Beharry: Yes, he did. Mr, Mascara: Yes, he did. Miss Beharry: Your policy on time clocks... Mr. Mascara: A policy doesn't even have to be written really, Pat. Miss Beharry: Your policy on time clocks talks about overtime must be authorized, It does not say by whom. It does not say when. It is not anywhere near a policy SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ��e�G ��c"�/ r WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA FRANK R. MASCARA. Lk' W�*X�IV.'GRVSEIXIA.;, JM, PALUSO,, COMMISSIONERS on overtime. Well, let me say also that Judge Acker makes clear in his order that the injunction holds until a hearing on the merits of this case can be held. Mr. Mascara: Absolutely, absolutely. I understand that. Miss Beharry: ...that over an Easter weekend... Mr. Mascara: If you wouldn't spend so much time reading the law and doing that job up there, you wouldn't have these problems, Pat. Miss Beharry: If I had a lawyer paid by this County for two years I wouldn't have been required to spend time reading the law. Mr. Mascara: Well, this County has paid you to be trained as a lawyer. You ought to go to Duquesne now. You pass a test and... Miss Beharry: If the Commissioners had agreed to pay counsel reasonable fees, I wouldn't have had to spend my time on the law. Mr. Mascara: $86,000 this year we're committed for besides what we paid him. So, are you telling me that you haven't had representation? ... to the tune of 86 grant to pay Carroll. Miss Beharry: Where are you getting 86 grand? Mr. Mascara: Well, $39,000 for the balance of this year and what we paid him last year and this year already... Miss Beharry:$39,000 is $13,000 a year over a three-year period... Mr. Mascara: $86,000... $86,000, $86,000; he's fast approaching a hundred... Miss Beharry: ...$39,000 over three year's worth of legal work... Mr. Petrosky: Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring this back. I'm not really here to talk about the attorney issue, you know, I'm bored with that issue. I've heard it so much over the last three years. But over and above that, I think that I would like to go on record as to another, what I consider a very valid reason why I would not consider the Controller's request at this point. We are waiting for the final draft of the Controller's audit done by Main Hurdman, and I think in terms of making a decision relative to increasing the Controller's staff, I would not want to do that until such time as that report is submitted to us and that we can take a look at that report and see exactly what is the situation in the Controller's Office; and based on that as opposed to maybe some rhetoric that has transpired between or among us, I could not consider Miss Be- harry's request at this point. Miss Beharry: Let me suggest this to you, gentlemen, because I still believe that there is no way .... (end of side one of tape) Mr. Petrosky: If you do not ... You know, we become very suspect when reports filter up ... you know, I realize that reports filter down, but they also filter up sometimes and possibly rumor, but we get very concerned when we hear reports th'iat a statement is attributed to you where you say that Mrs. Dorisio will make more money this year than she did last and I will make sure of that and I will,do that by working her overtime. And soon after you allegedly made that statement, F� D 469 SALARY M i N UTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA Fpa,Wr� f7. IV'q;q(�aRa,,,4�Yi1T��,lti1DWAiRD'Nf.PALUSO,COMMISSIONERS AD Mrs. Dorisio starts to work in unauthorized overtime. Now, I get very suspect over situations like that. Miss Beharry: You know, it would serve you well, Mr. Petrosky, as opposed to drawing conclusions on rumors... Mr. Petrosky: I didn't say I drew any conclusions. I said I've become suspect. There is a difference. Miss Beharry: Suspect and you draw conclusions... Mr. Mascara: He didn't draw a conclusion... benefit of the doubt... Mr. Petrosky: I didn't draw conclusions. I'm giving you what I consider a very professional and valid reason why I'm not considering your request at this time because I think it would be ludicrous for this Board to move in terms of increas- ing your staff until we receive the final report from Main Hurdman on the interna_ audit that was done in your office. Miss Beharry: I heard what you were saying and I wasn't allowed to finish my request to the Board. My request to the Board in light of your concern about increasing the staff until Main Hurdman's audit is performed and in light of the constraints I feel I am under and my attorney feels I am under under court order not to work anyone out of their classification, that you change the Accounts Pay- able Clerk job to an Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor's job, thereby avoiding any violation of the collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Mascara: In other words, just changing the name makes the process going to move much quickly here. Mr. Petrosky: Is that what you're saying? Miss Beharry: I would be able to do the work without violating the collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Mascara: That is great. I love that. Let me tell you something, have a responsibility here too to this County and if the people are put Pat. You in peril... the people who work, you know, the 24-hour people, people at the Home and the Jail ... things that we have to do, if anything is jeopardized, that's going to lay on your back and I'm not going to be reluctant to go to the Courts to do some- thing about it and I mean something drastic. We're not going to let you get away with this. You've been fooling the people long enough. Now I think it's time for you to get upstairs, go to work and do your job and we'll get to this other matter later on. But don't try to pull that on us. We're not going to sit... I'm not going to sit still with it. You, know, if they say they don't have food out at the Home or they don't have food at the Jail, they don't have medical supplies, we're going to do something real quick. You're going to be in Court so fast your ears are going to spin and we're going to find out what your motives are. You know, I'm very, very serious. I'm concerned about this and I think you should be too. 470 SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Metro Petrosk�, Jr FRANK R., MASCARA, y aCl ta! ij. l.`d fR)b8q/ EO ARr) -PALUSO., COMMISSIONERS Miss Beharry: I'm very concerned about this... Mr. Mascara: You shouldn't play games... Miss Beharry: ...and I'm looking forward to... Mr. Mascara: ...you're playing games with people's lives and I don't think you should do that. You're old enough and you're smart enough to know better and I shouldn't have to sit here and tell you about it. You know, and we all know, and if you can't do the job, somebody will do the job. The job will get done. Miss Beharry requested that the minutes reflect that her motion (p.458) was to re-create the position of Accounts Payable Clerk, Working Supervisor, in place of the position of Accounts Payable Clerk. Motion died for lack of a second. There being no further business, Chairman Mascara declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 a.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: 1986 r ATTEST: L.L.. CHIEF CLERK 1 n