Somerset County Commissioners approve union agreement

Madolin Edwards, The Daily American
·5 min read
The Somerset County Office Building houses the commissioners.

SOMERSET ― Somerset County Commissioners and SCAPE, the Somerset Court Association of Professional Employees, have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The three-year agreement, approved Tuesday by commissioners, runs from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2026.

The contract involves 29 Somerset County Court-related employees – probation officers, domestic relations officers, hearing officers and some of the clerical staff. Somerset County has three unions. The only one not settled yet is the AFSME contract, commissioners said. In July, commissioners approved the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Memorandum of Understanding, adjusting the salaries for the AFSCME Professional 911 Communications officer position.

All three contracts are on the same timetable.

"All of our contracts have settled on time so far," Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said.

The new agreement increases the starting salaries for the new employees, comparable to the starting salaries at the Somerset County Jail, she said.

More: Commissioners, AFSCME agree to MOU for 911 dispatchers

"The increase in starting salaries was something we've neglected in the past. We always are concerned with the current employees," said board Chairman Gerald Walker. "The new employees are not the top priority."

Tokar-Ickes said it was a priority this time. The commissioners said they felt it was important to attract new employees to the county government. The hope is that they will achieve higher recruiting levels, they said.

New starting salaries

Under the new contract, the starting rate is $17.44 per hour, up from $14.42. After completing 12 months the wage will be $20.41 per hour. After the employee completes 18 months, the wage will be $22.28 per hour.

For any employee whose 2023 hourly rate exceeds $22.28 per hour, the employee will receive a base salary increase of $3,000, which will be used to calculate their 2024 hourly rate. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the hourly rates for employees with more than 18 months of service, previously at $22.28 per hour or greater, will be increased by 2.75%. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the hourly rates for employees with more than 18 months of service, previously at $22.28 per hour or greater, will be increased by 3%.

The agreement also includes wages for case aides, probation officer aides and interns will be paid 75% of the wage rate applicable to officers. Wages for existing case aides hourly rates for probation officer aides with greater than 18 months of service as of Jan. 1, will have a $3,000 increase in base salary, which is what will be used to calculate the 2024 hourly rate. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the hourly rate shall be increased by 2.75%; and effective Jan. 1, 2026, the hourly rate will be increased by 3%.

More: Employee timesheets is the basis for Right-to-Know requests

Other salaries

The salary board set new salaries that are not part of the SCAPE agreement.

  • Airport manager will have an increase in salary from $39,055 to $42,000, effective Sept. 16.

  • They set the starting salary for the Area Agency on Aging administrator at a range of $55,000-$60,000.

  • Created a position and set the starting salary for a Children and Youth Services temporary program specialist for Oct. 2-31, at $36,000.

  • They created the position and set the starting salary for a 911 coordinator at $40,000.

  • They created a position and set the starting salary for a 911 operations manager at $40,000.

  • Set the starting salary for deputy warden at the Somerset County Jail at $53,000.

  • Created a position and set the starting salary for court hearing officer/law clerk/mediator at $59,703 per recommendation of the President Judge.

  • Reclassified administrative assistant as clerical supervisor in Domestic Relations, reaffirming the salary at $28,000 per recommendation of the President Juge.

  • Director of Veterans Affairs will have an increased salary from $35,568 to $40,000, effective Sept. 16.

  • Director of Voter Registration/election will have an increased salary from $43,215 to $53,215.

County 911

County Treasurer Tony DeLuca, voted against the newly created 911 positions because he said that would make too many people in administration and not enough dispatchers.

Commissioners said they are continuing to seek applications for the county 911 director. They believe the two new positions will help the director to have a better focus on the "extreme amount of paperwork," while the coordinator and operations manager will handle the day to day operations of the center.

More: When you call Somerset County 911, someone will answer the call

The director will be in charge of the county 911 center of 17 communication officers positions, with 15 filled, a trainer, six part time positions with two of those currently filled, and the GIS/CAD radio specialist, for a total of 25 positions. The 911 center still has two dispatcher, trainer and the director positions open.

Commissioners said the director, coordinator and operations manager will cross train, so when one takes off for vacation or sick time, they will be able to step in and help with the duties of that department."We're coming up to a level we are comfortable with," said Walker.

Sheriff's concerns

Somerset County Sheriff Dustin "Dusty" Weir addressed the commissioners about two requisitions he'd submitted that have not been addressed. The requisitions were for taser cartridges and batteries, and tires for the vehicles. Requests requiring more than $500 have to be approved by the commissioners.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County Commissioners approve union agreement