Salary board creates new positions; increases salaries
Several Fayette County departments will add staff or increase the wages of current employees following action taken this week by the salary board.
In unanimous action by those present at the Wednesday meeting, the board agreed to a request from Human Resource Director Denise Stepanik to create a part-time technician position until the end of the year at an hourly salary of $14.09.
“The workload in our office has been excruciating,” said Stepanik. “I need the extra help. It is the busy time of the year.”
Stepanik added that during the upcoming budgetary discussions she will ask that the position be converted to a full-time, non-supervisory labor management relations position or classification specialist position at an hourly salary of $20.20.
Michael Cavanagh of Uniontown questioned the need for additional staffing and the cost to the county, noting that the former administrative assistant to Commissioner Vince Zapotosky had just transferred to the same department.
Zapotosky responded that the salary board was only creating the full-time position, but it would have to be reviewed by the commissioners during the budget process to determine if it was feasible.
The board additionally agreed to create a department clerk position for the tax assessment office at an hourly rate of $10.76.
Department head Bill Lukatch said the front office staff has been steadily reduced from two full time clerks to a single part time position with the current employee tendering their resignation in July.
“I need someone,” said Lukatch.
In related business, the panel agreed to raise the salary of two employees due to an increase in their respective job duties.
Sheriff Gary Brownfield requested the board move the salary grading of Gary Brownfield Jr., current chief of security, from an annual salary of $41,028 to $44,440 due to his added duties as a deputy sheriff.
The sheriff’s department oversees the court security department staff.
The board additionally agreed to pay Brownfield Jr. at the higher rate – totaling $1,225 – through the end of the year.
At the recommendation of Bob Carson, county public works director, the salary board agreed to upgrade current purchasing clerk/administrative secretary Jill Myers to purchasing specialist/building and grounds assistant and raise her annual salary from $25,963 to $27,942.
The measures were approved by Zapotosky, and other salary board members Commissioner Al Ambrosini and acting Controller Sidney Bush. Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink did not attend the meeting.
In other business, the board tabled action in two union appeals until Stepanik is able to review the matters.
According to the agenda, the two employees were asking the salary board to overturn the denial of wage increases made by former human resource director Dominick Carnicella.