Two requests to waive probationary pay for employees were discussed by the Marshall County Council this week.
Community Corrections Director Ward Byers requested waiver for a new case manager who comes to the department with a wealth of experience from Ohio. In addition, the case manager’s pay is based on a federal grant.
“Not only does he have the experience, but this is also funded by the grant,” said Byers. “Any dollars that we’re not spending we have to return and we’ve already been a month down on that. That funding started on July 1 and we hired Aug. 7. It was just the way it worked out.”
The employee would still be on probation for 90 days but his pay would be retroactive to his start date.
Prosecutor Nelson Chipman also presented a pay waiver request for new Pre-Trial Diversion Officer Kelly Kanarr who has been with the county for 19 years. She was hired into this new position on Aug. 7.
The current policy allows current employees to be granted the waiver which sparked a conversation by Byers of why the policy even exists.
“If that employee is not living up to the expectations of the policy then we have a 90-day probationary period to eliminate that individual from our payroll. But why do we penalize an individual to come and work for county government and tell them that we’re only going to pay them 90 percent of that salary for the 90 days?”
Council President Judy Stone commented that the council has waived every similar request that has been brought before them. It was also noted that merit officers have to wait a year before the probationary pay period is lifted.
The council unanimously approved both requests while the policy discussion will continue in a future setting.
