McSwain: ‘We’re going to have to address that somehow or other’
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Comm., Pct. 1 Roscoe McSwain voiced displeasure with overtime at the Sheriff’s Office at the February 3 commissioners court meeting. County Auditor Clint Porterfield reported annual overtime budgeted at $75,000 has reached $110,000 in nine pay periods. David Danley | The Light and Champion
Overtime concerns about hours at the sheriff’s office dominated discussion at the Wednesday, Feb. 3. meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court.
During payroll review, Comm., Pct. 1 Roscoe McSwain voiced displeasure with the overtime. “We ought to start investigating (overtime) and looking at that closer,” he said. “We’re going to have to address that somehow or other.”
According to County Auditor Clint Porterfield, total annual overtime budgeted is $75,000. “For nine pay periods,” Porterfield said, “we have $110,000 worth of overtime … that is $30,000 more than the same nine periods last year.” He acknowledged that included pay increases, but said overtime is still $30,000 more in nine pay periods.
McSwain then expressed his opinion for the origins of the excess overtime.
“It comes down to management, and no one is keeping an eye on what’s going on,” said McSwain. “People are just turning in their time and doing what they please, not getting their work done in their normal shift and then postponing it and doing it on overtime. I really seriously think the court is going to have to consider changing our overtime policy because at this rate, we’re going to be $200,000 over budget.
“Simple math and division … puts you over $300,000 …,” Porterfield said.
According to McSwain, the $75,000 is budgeted for holidays and “things we know we’re going to pay overtime on.” Then added, “But the management has never been this bad before. And the sickening part of it is, we’ve hired … more employees … (and) gave them more positions.
“So, the court needs to be thinking about what route we’re going to go,” McSwain continued. McSwain advocated no overtime, but comp time and the comp time be deducted from the next pay period. “Because if they don’t have nobody to work,” said McSwain, “they’ll start thinking about how they abuse the system.”
Porterfield asked the court to consider the county policy concerning payment of comp time at year’s end. “So, it’s possible that if they comp the time and they are not able to take it off, we’re going to pay them at the end of the year.” Porterfield said that is done because the county does not want to carry accruals over into a new year.”
“I think our policy should be (that) it’s not negotiable,” McSwain said. “They will take it off the next pay period.” According to the commissioner, that puts “teeth” in the policy, and eliminates building up $10,000 worth of payment at year’s end. “And if they know they don’t have any employees coming in next week because they’ve abused the system, they’ll get it right, or the elected people and the upper people can go to work and cover the shift.”
According to McSwain, no excess overtime would allow for raises. He also noted $5,200 in raises in two years have been approved.
u “We’ve tried to compensate for the time, but we can’t do more than what we can do,” he concluded.
Comm. Pct. 3 Stevie Smith concurred saying the change needs to come sooner rather than later.
Following discussion, the current payroll was approved.
County Judge Allison Harbison updated commissioners on requests for quotes (RFQ) for proposed Community Room renovations at the courthouse.
“Respondents’ questions are due … Thursday the 13th,” said Harbison, “and we’ll answer questions by the 20th.” She said a mandatory site visit is set for February 16 at 10:00 a.m., RFQ responses due February 27th, and awarding the bid February 28.
Harbison said the quote was for just the room at this point, postponing other updates discussed last week.
Bellmyer reported on conversation with Miles Underwood concerning the county’s property lease in Garza County. After discussion on insurance requirements, The court voted to assign the lease to Underwood and to waive the workman’s comp clause included in the current lease.
Resuming discussion on updating county sick leave policy, Harbison questioned Price on the status.
“I still need some guidance as to what the commission wishes,” Price replied. “We do need to get something in writing for everyone to consider. With court’s approval I’ll draft something … then you can adjust it accordingly.”
As the item was for discussion only, The court took no action on the discussion only item.
The court approved cyber security training for county employees utilizing email and the internet. The training will be provided through the Texas Association of Counties and will cost the county five dollars per person.
In other business, the court approved paying weekly expenses and passed on discussing and/or approving an eGrant to digitize voter’s registration records.
No action was taken following an executive session.