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July 12, 2010

Furloughs force Friday closures in county govt.

http://www.dailyrecord.com
By JOSEPH P. SMITH • Staff Writer • July 8, 2010

Cumberland County Library patrons will have to hold on to their books and patience come Friday.

The library (which has Saturday hours) is closing for one day as part of a series of unpaid furloughs for about 120 workers in a dozen county government departments.
The shutdowns shouldn't be noticeable to the average county resident, in general. Most of the departments deal with internal, business or government matters.

"Emergency services are definitely available," said county Human Resources Director Joe Ross, whose department also is closing Friday.
Friday is just the first installment for those 120 workers, who face a total of six days off spread over four months.

The county estimates it will save $190,000 in salary and wages with the furloughs, just one of many steps taken this year to reduce spending.
State workers have been taking furlough days and Millville police officers recently agreed to take eight unpaid days off in order to save several officers from being laid off. Millville government also has reorganized work schedules for most city employees to cut costs; many departments are shut down on Fridays now.

County Library Director Jean Edwards said 16 people, a mix of full-timers and part-timers, are affected by the furloughs. The days off are spread out to lessen the impact per paycheck, but the pay loss will be felt, she said.
Edwards said she put in a plan for one furlough day per month, but it was rejected.
"It's always a big deal when your salary is decreased," Edwards said. "People aren't making a lot of money to begin with."

The county schools superintendent office also is closing, though it is a qualified shutdown. Five county-paid clerical workers are off, but state employees, such as the superintendent, are working.
"But we're asking for any contacts to be Monday through Thursday," Superintendent Richard Stepura said, adding callers should just leave a message Friday.

"It'll be handled first thing Monday morning and if there is anything of an emergency, the (district) superintendents know how to reach us," he said.

Stepura noted most of the furlough days fortunately fall during the summer. Friday also is a good choice if an office has to close, he said.

In addition to those departments affected Friday, workers will get two furlough days if employed at the Adjuster's Office, Clerk's Office or Board of Elections. Those furloughs don't start until Sept. 3, though. Surrogate's Office workers also will be off for two days, both in November.
Also, workers at the Extension Center will get six furlough days, with the first coming Aug. 13.

Posted by tumulty at July 12, 2010 8:48 AM

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