Pay hike system stalled at FCHA
Implementation of a merit increase pay raise system for employees of the Fayette County Housing Authority is stalled again. The pay increase system, outlined by FCHA Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless at the authority’s monthly board meeting Thursday, is based on a numeric calculation for pay increases based on a performance appraisal. Harkless explained that although the salary review table calls for increases of up to 6.95 percent, he didn’t believe there has ever been a case that an employee would fall into the category of eligibility for that much of a raise.
Authority board Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink expressed concerns regarding the potential to give out 6.95-percent raises.
Harkless said determining raises based on calculations is actually a science, adding that students have done thesis work on the subject. He said the costs of the raises have been budgeted, for a total of $48,000 this year. “Everybody budgeted an extra amount to do this,” Harkless said.
Harkless asked the authority to make the approval retroactive to July 1, the beginning of the current fiscal year. He said the FCHA added more than $200,000 to the reserve fund last year. “If you say you are going to give salary increases and merit increases you should do that,” Harkless said.
Board member Beverly Beal said raises are given just about every year.
Harkless said the majority of evaluations would likely fall into the category that will make employees eligible for raises ranging from 1.45 to 4.95 percent.
While board member James V. Bitonti initially said he was ready to move on the issue, he later suggested tabling the action until he could receive more information. Bitonti said there is a union contract negotiation with the maintenance staff looming that needs the undivided attention of the board.
The motion to table was approved unanimously with Bitonti, Zimmerlink, Beal and William “Trip” Radcliffe voting in favor of it. Board member Nancy Sutton was absent.
Zimmerlink questioned the logic of approving a policy for raises now, adding that she believes there will be funding cuts in the future from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She noted that a cut in funding to the authority’s human services program will lead to someone being furloughed. Although the board took no action, it was announced that due to a deficit of $24,456, there is going to be an “indefinite furlough” of a homemaker service worker in the authority-run Services to Senior Citizens program. Zimmerlink said it is an administrative function and no board action is required.
The FCHA board also took action to revise the admission and continued occupancy policy for the public housing and Section 8 housing programs, to provide for an admission preference for families of federally declared disasters. The action was taken following a nationwide request from HUD to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Harkless said there are 75 public housing units in the county available for families. According to Harkless’ monthly report, there are a total of 170 vacant units available for rental, which is a 16.6 percent vacancy rate.
Also relating to Hurricane Katrina, Harkless reported that the Houston Housing Authority is seeking 20 Section 8 inspectors and 20 Section 8 caseworkers to volunteer for 30 days to assist with displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. He said transportation and lodging will be paid, and possibly salary. Harkless reported that caseworker Pat Herrington, assistant Section 8 Program coordinator, has volunteered to go.
The authority unanimously approved a motion to allow Herrington to go, and to move personnel around during the 30 days she is gone. “That’s a real commitment,” Harkless said.
On another matter, the authority also discussed the policy of allowing employees to take FCHA vehicles home, following a request by Beal to examine the practice. Beal said that her asking about halting the practice wasn’t personal, as she was just looking to save money. Harkless said seven vehicles are taken home by employees for different reasons, such as living close to the job site and the absence of overnight parking at the job site. Harkless acknowledged that three of the vehicles could possibly not be taken home daily, once space is made available for them. Following a suggestion by Beal, the authority instructed Harkless to display the words “Fayette County Housing Authority” on the entire fleet of vehicles owned by the FCHA.
The board also met in a brief executive session to discuss the human service funding cuts and then met in a second executive session to discuss union negotiations. No vote was taken to ratify a tentative bargaining agreement between the FCHA and the Construction, General Laborers’ and Materials Handlers, Local Union No. 1058, affiliated with District Council of Western Pennsylvania Labors’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, for maintenance employees.
Bitonti, who wanted to discuss the issue in executive session, has a son working in the FCHA maintenance department and previously said he would not vote on any issues dealing with the union.
In addition to tabling ratification of the agreement, the board also tabled a resolution to amend the existing FCHA pension plan. Currently, the FCHA matches 15.3 percent of each employee’s annual salary as a separate contribution to his or her pension account.
During discussions for the union contract, the possibility of having employees pay a portion of their pension contribution is being considered.