LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials say raises aren't probable

Mary Ann Reiter was named temporary prison board president.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Prison Board approved a recommendation for $33,000 in raises for nonunion workers, but officials say the raises probably won't be instituted.
The raises for nonunion employees were recommended by Warden Mark Fellows.
County Commissioner Brian Burick, prison board president, said many of the raises are needed to keep the employees on par with nearby private and county-run jails, but he doesn't believe the county can afford the pay increases.
"There are many nonunion positions at the jail that need increases. We have lost some people and we will probably lose more, but our only option is a huge increase in property taxes," Burick said.
Commissioners are still hashing out the 2004 budget. There was still a $3.5 million deficit earlier this week. The budget was to be introduced today.
Board says raises unlikely
The prison board agreed to make the recommended increases to the county salary board, which creates all new positions and grants raises. But salary board members say the raises are unlikely. The boards share many of the same members.
Controller Mary Ann Reiter, who sits on both boards, said she needs to see the commissioners' proposed budget before she would vote for the jail salary increases. She did agree to the increase recommendation.
Reiter said the salary board can consider the increases only if they are recommended by the prison board.
Burick also agreed to the recommendation, but said the raises aren't likely to be granted. The county salary board consists of the three county commissioners, Reiter and the elected officials whose departments are affected.
The prison board includes the commissioners, Reiter, District Attorney Matthew Mangino, President Judge Ralph Pratt and the county sheriff. The sheriff and Commissioner Ed Fosnaught were not present at Wednesday's meeting.
Mangino voted against the recommendation, saying it isn't fair to recommend raises for nonunion jail employees when nonunion workers in his office won't be getting raises next year.
Judge Pratt agreed to the recommendation.
Burick said there are 10 to 12 nonunion workers at the jail who would be affected.
Steps down
In other business, Burick stepped down as president because he was not re-elected county commissioner. Reiter was named temporary prison board president. The new board, which includes two new county commissioners, will vote on a permanent president in January.
Reiter also was given signatory power over checking accounts for the jail commissary, prisoner welfare fund and the grocery fund. Burick previously had those duties.
DeCarbo opposed giving Reiter those duties. He said after the meeting that he doesn't believe Reiter can handle them.
"She doesn't pay her bills as mandated by county code and we are giving her more duties," DeCarbo said.
A recent report filed by auditing firm Maher Duessel found that there were instances when Reiter's office had a time lag between the date of an invoice and the date of payment exceeding 30 days.
Reiter has said she pays invoices 30 days after her office receives them. Some departments hold invoices before sending them to the controller, she added.