By Rich Cholodofsky
Tribune-Review
GREENSBURG, Pa. — Westmoreland County Prison officials want to fill 15 vacant part-time guard jobs by the middle of next month, but so far finding replacements has been a difficult task.
And unless those new hires are confirmed, overtime costs for 113 full-time guards on staff at the jail could skyrocket entering the summer vacation months, according to Warden John Walton.
Walton on Monday told members of the county’s prison board that he’s having trouble hiring a full complement of part-time staff to augment his full-time jail guard roster.
The warden said part-time jobs were offered to 13 candidates last month; only five people accepted positions.
“No benefits (for part-timers) is a big issue,” Walton said.
Jail officials earlier this month brought in 24 candidates for interviews and agility tests and identified 10 people to whom jobs will be offered, according to the warden.
He said he hopes that by May 11, all 15 part-time guards will be on staff.
“We haven’t been required to pay more overtime yet because we’ve moved our (guard training). This is a slow time of year, so there has not been a lot of overtime,” Walton said.
That will change as summer approaches. Part-timers are routinely assigned to cover shifts as full-time guards take vacations. Walton said that without a full complement of part-timers, overtime expenses will increase later this year.