Pay adjustments, new hire made by commissioners
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Stand
Veterans Affair director Madonna Nicklow thanks commissioners Al Ambrosini, and Vince Zapotosky during the public comment following the special meeting held Monday to vote on pay adjustments to numerous county employees.
Vanderbilt resident Jerrie Mazza is asked by a sherrif deputy to leave the podium after her 3-minute speaking limit had lapsed. Mazza was one of several members of the public during Monday’s special meeting critizing commissioners Al Ambrosini and Vince Zapotosky for voting on two new hires, and pay adjustments for numerous county employees.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Commissioner Al Ambrosini, who officially leaves office Jan. 3, votes on the motion to hire Eugene Gallo as the county’s parks and recreation manager during Monday special meeting. Gallo served as Ambrosini’s assistant.
The outgoing Fayette County Commissioners Monday voted to give pay adjustments to numerous county employees, drawing criticism from several members of the public who denounced the move as political patronage.
Commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini officially leave office Jan. 3, but Monday marked the last official meeting for the current board of commissioners. Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink, who will be returning to office in January, was not present for Monday’s meeting.
The first action on the agenda was to correct pay levels for county employees who moved from union to non-union positions, losing longevity increases to which they were entitled, Zapotosky said.
Vanderbilt resident Jerrie Mazza questioned all of the actions on the agenda.
“Where are you getting all this money?” Mazza asked.
“These are all human resources items, 98 percent of them that have been festering for years. A lot of these employees basically took a salary cut when they went from union to nonunion,” Zapotosky said. “We are here today to clean the slate.”
Zapotosky said the matters had been discussed at two previous salary board meetings.
The two commissioners went on to ratify numerous increases previously approved by the salary board.
“These were all well-justified upgrades that were needed,” Human Resources director Denise Stepanik said.
Also approved were two positions in the buildings and grounds department: a custodial position and a parks and recreation manager position. The commissioners then voted to fill the parks and recreation position by hiring Eugene Gallo, who has served as Ambrosini’s assistant.
“This position you’ve created is just another political payback to one of your people,” said Michael Cavanagh of Uniontown.
Ambrosini said the position is one that is greatly needed in the county and a grant that will cover 75 percent of the cost is being sought, though even without the grant, the position is funded in the 2016 budget.
“It’s a no-brainer. Our parks need to have events scheduled for the community,” Ambrosini said.
According to the job posting, the candidate had to have a minimum of five years’ experience with all facets of recreation planning, including master planning implementation, facility management/construction, programming and budgeting.
Also, the candidate must secure a parks and recreation professional certification within 12 months of employment and maintain the certification throughout employment with the county.
Stepanik said the position was posted internally and four applicants were interviewed. Stepanick said Gallo was more qualified than any of the other applicants. Stepanik said the commissioners were not involved in the interview process.
According to Gallo’s job application, he was the owner of River’s Edge Family Campground from 1998-2006. He also listed grant writing experience and extensive contacts through association with the Great Allegheny Passage that runs past his residence in Connellsville.
The county owns three parks and two trails: Dunlap Creek, German-Masontown and Jacobs Creek parks and Browns Run and Sheepskin trails.
“I’m proud of the fact that we now have someone to watch over them. I think we’re going to see further growth and more income,” Zapotosky said of the parks and trails.
Three times during the meeting, Ambrosini called for the sheriff’s deputy to escort members of the public out of the meeting for being unruly, but on all three occasions, Zapotosky suggested that the person should be allowed to stay and no action was taken. Zapotosky thanked the members of the public he has worked for over his eight years in office.
“For those of you who dissented, I thank you as well,” Zapotosky said. “Although we have disagreed, I have respect for you.”
“As long as we make progress, as long as we improve things, then we’ve done our job. I walk away from this knowing I maintained my honesty, integrity and my business and personal ethics,” Ambrosini said.
Veterans Affairs director Madonna Nicklow thanked the commissioners for their support, noting that she knew what it was like to be on the receiving side of negative public comments.
“If it wasn’t for you two, I wouldn’t be in the position I am now. Since I took the position in 2012, we’ve brought in $3 million a year for veterans and their families,” Nicklow said.