Visitors criticize the size of employee pay raises

Commissioners say the raises are justified for the employees.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Some Hefty pay raises were the cause of some hefty criticism for Lawrence County commissioners.
The county commissioners handed out 4.1 percent cost-of-living increases to all nonunion and management employees last week and approved greater pay increases ranging from 6 percent to 21 percent to more than a dozen county employees last week. The increases came after commissioners raised taxes 5 percent for this year. Commissioners say they have no misgivings about the raises, however.
"I believe the people in this courthouse earn their wages. I believe you should work with the minimum number of people, but I also feel that people should be compensated for what they do," Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said.
Opposite view
But visitors at Tuesday's commissioners' meeting did not agree.
"The 4.1 percent was fine; but these other ones, 21 percent, 19 percent raises. This is absurd. People who get jobs here know the salary of the job," said Oran Allen of Shenango Township.
"We supported you to save money, not spend it. You guys have got to stop doing what you are doing and listen to us," said Ed Olacz of New Castle.
Allen and Olacz are frequent visitors at commissioners' meetings.
Commissioner Steve Craig said there were special circumstances in each case where an employee got a larger than 4.1 percent increase.
As an example, he said the 21 percent increase was given to Susan Quimby, human resources director, because she has now taken over union negotiations for the county. He said in the past they would hire a law firm.
"This year our human resources director handled negotiations and saved us close to six figures [that would have gone to a law firm]," Craig said.
He added that a 7 percent increase was given to Artisha Foster, county tax claim bureau director, because her staff was cut and her office has received extra work in helping authorities investigate the county finances in relation to allegations made against Treasurer Gary Felasco.
Felasco is charged with taking more than $40,000 from his office for personal use.
Craig said there were special situations for the other increases, also.
Commissioners were asked to compute the amount given in raises compared to the amount of the tax increase. Those figures were not available Tuesday.